Resolute Scotland caged Three Lions of England to a goalless draw at the iconic Wembley Stadium on Friday night.
For once echoes of ‘Its coming home’ died down on the shores of Thames River after this Group D contest of the European Championship (Euro2020).
Nonetheless, England top Group D with three points at par with leaders Czech Republic. They are the favourites to make it to the next stage of the competition.
To be brutally honest, Scotland neutralised England during the game.
Still, England had the chances to fashion something.
Defender John Stones, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden all had scoring chances but they could not locate the target.
England’s first chance fell on Stones from a corner-kick in the 11th minute.
However, Stones crashed his towering header against the post after arriving in the box in the 11th minute.
Mount and Sterling kept enjoying good understanding of their runs off the ball.
The Chelsea man twice released Sterling into the opponent’s territory.
In the first chance, the Manchester City player turned his markers inside out on the left side but Scotland defenders read his intentions and cleared the danger.
In the 18th minute, Foden controlled a high ball with his right leg and attempted to volley with his left but he was caught offside.
The chances kept coming with Mount driving the midfield, Sterling attracting defenders to himself whereas captain Kane was synonymous.
In the 28th minute, Kane had a chance to redeem himself.
He arrived at the end of James cross but the former misjudged the flight of the ball which whistled past the goal-mouth.
Two minutes later, O’Donnell of Scotland forced goalkeeper Pickford to dive low and punch a dangerous ball off target late in the first-half.
The Gareth Southgate looked relieved heading into the half-time break.
When the second-half started, Southgate made the changes in personnel but it was Scotland that continued to impress.
James cleared off the line a goal-bound shot from O’Donnell in the 62nd minute.
Southgate reacted by withdrawing the effective Foden for Jack Glearish.
Eventually, Kane departed the scene to pave the way for Marcus Rashford.
Despite such changes, it was still Scotland that threatened this time around Adams flashing his near-post effort over the bar.
Thereafter, McGinn deflected his long range attempt over the bar for a corner- kick in the 81st minute. That proved to be the last chance of the match.
Scotland went into the match smarting from a 2-0 loss to leaders Czech Republic in the tournament’s opener last week.
England: Pickford; James, John Stones, Mings, Luke Shaw; Phillips, Rice, Mount; Phil Foden, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling.
Scotland: Marshall; McTominay, Hanley, Tierney; O’Donnell, McGinn, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson; Dykes, Adams.