Raheem Sterling captained England for the third timeEngland strolled to victory in their friendly against Ivory Coast at Wembley to complete a satisfactory international break for manager Gareth Southgate.
Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham produced an outstanding individual display as England followed up Saturday’s win against Switzerland with a commanding performance.
The hosts were well in control and leading through Ollie Watkins’ close-range finish, before former Tottenham defender Serge Aurier’s dismissal – when he was shown a second yellow card for dissent – five minutes before the break.
‘It’s ridiculous’ – Southgate and Grealish on England fans booing MaguireRaheem Sterling, captain for the night and creator of Watkins’ 30th-minute opener, made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, effectively ending the game as a contest. Defender Tyrone Mings’ injury-time header completed the formalities.
Booing Maguire an ‘absolute joke’, says England boss SouthgateHas Bellingham made himself an England starter?Reaction to England’s win over Ivory CoastBellingham stakes his claimSouthgate made 10 changes from the side that came from behind to beat Switzerland 2-1, giving a start to Bellingham in the number 10 role.
And how the Dortmund player, who is not 19 until June, revelled in the responsibility with yet another astonishingly mature display that simply confirmed once more how comfortable he is at international level.
Bellingham has already proved his class and quality for England, as well as his club in both the Bundesliga and Champions League. The sky really is the limit for this richly-gifted youngster.
England untroubled by the ElephantsIn the end, it was victory at a canter for England against an Ivory Coast side who delivered little in the way of attacking intent – and only produced several heavy challenges by way of resistance to the home side’s superiority.
James Ward-Prowse received warm applause when he was substituted after almost scoring with a trademark long-range strike, but Manchester United captain Harry Maguire did not receive the same reception from the Wembley crowd.
England manager Southgate has kept faith with Maguire despite his abject form at club level but some of the home fans were less forgiving, with audible jeers greeting his name when it was read out before kick-off and also with his first touches.
Other than that, it was a mercifully quiet night for centre-back Maguire who, despite those Old Trafford struggles, has rarely let England down.
Harry Kane was restricted to a cameo as a second-half substitute so did not get the chance to claim a 50th England goal on his 69th appearance for his country.
It was the sort of confident performance Southgate will have wanted, with the added bonus of giving his squad even more experience. Crystal Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell was able to cruise through his first start following a debut against Switzerland.
England now wait to hear their World Cup group opponents at Friday’s draw in Qatar, before they return to action against Hungary in Budapest for June’s Uefa Nations League encounter.
The second half was very low-key once England had scored twice and the visitors went down to 10 men, but there was still plenty to please Southgate as he formulates and finalises his plans for when the World Cup action gets under way in November.
Player of the match
RiceDeclan Rice
with an average of 7.41
EnglandSquad number4Player nameRice
Squad number10Player nameBellingham
Squad number9Player nameWatkins
Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number11Player nameGrealish
Squad number5Player nameMings
Squad number1Player namePope
Squad number23Player nameSmith Rowe
Squad number2Player nameWhite
Squad number3Player nameMitchell
Squad number17Player nameWalker-Peters
Squad number18Player nameFoden
Squad number21Player nameGallagher
Squad number12Player nameShaw
Squad number20Player nameKane
Squad number6Player nameMaguire
Ivory CoastSquad number11Player nameCornet
Squad number19Player namePépé
Squad number22Player nameHaller
Squad number21Player nameBailly
Squad number4Player nameSeri
Squad number8Player nameKessié
Squad number23Player nameBadra Sangaré
Squad number6Player nameBoly
Squad number14Player nameKamara
Squad number20Player nameAkouokou
Squad number12Player nameCoulibaly
Squad number15Player nameGradel
Squad number28Player nameBoli
Squad number5Player nameAgbadou
Squad number27Player nameDeli
Squad number3Player nameKonan
Squad number17Player nameAurier
Line-upsEnglandFormation 4-3-3
1Pope
2White6Maguire5Mings3Mitchell
8Ward-Prowse4Rice10Bellingham
7Sterling9Watkins11Grealish
1Pope2WhiteSubstituted forWalker-Petersat 45’minutes6Maguire5Mings3MitchellSubstituted forShawat 62’minutes8Ward-ProwseSubstituted forGallagherat 80’minutes4Rice10Bellingham7SterlingSubstituted forFodenat 62’minutes9WatkinsSubstituted forKaneat 62’minutes11GrealishSubstituted forSmith Roweat 62’minutesSubstitutes12Shaw13Forster14Henderson15Guéhi16Coady17Walker-Peters18Foden19Mount20Kane21Gallagher22Pickford23Smith RoweIvory CoastFormation 4-2-3-1
23Sangaré
17Aurier21Bailly27Deli14Kamara
8Kessié4Seri
19Pépé15Gradel11Cornet
22Haller
23Sangaré17AurierBooked at 40mins21BaillySubstituted forAgbadouat 45’minutes27Deli14Kamara8Kessié4SeriBooked at 33minsSubstituted forAkouokouat 90+3’minutes19PépéSubstituted forBolyat 45’minutes15GradelSubstituted forCoulibalyat 45’minutes11CornetSubstituted forKonanat 64’minutes22HallerSubstituted forBoliat 86’minutesSubstitutes1Cissé2Diallo3Konan5Agbadou6Boly10Kouassi12Coulibaly16Koné18Sangaré20Akouokou25Konaté28BoliReferee:Erik Lambrechts
Attendance:73,405
Live TextMatch ends, England 3, Côte d’Ivoire 0.
Second Half ends, England 3, Côte d’Ivoire 0.
Goal! England 3, Côte d’Ivoire 0. Tyrone Mings (England) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Phil Foden with a cross following a corner.
Substitution, Côte d’Ivoire. Paul Akouokou replaces Jean Michaël Seri.
Corner, England. Conceded by Emmanuel Agbadou.
Attempt blocked. Emile Smith Rowe (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kyle Walker-Peters.
Phil Foden (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Franck Kessié (Côte d’Ivoire).
Foul by Conor Gallagher (England).
Franck Kessié (Côte d’Ivoire) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, Côte d’Ivoire. Yohan Boli replaces Sébastien Haller.
Attempt missed. Phil Foden (England) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tyrone Mings.
Substitution, England. Conor Gallagher replaces James Ward-Prowse.
Jude Bellingham (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Fousseny Coulibaly (Côte d’Ivoire).
Foul by Tyrone Mings (England).
Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Simon Deli (Côte d’Ivoire) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jean Michaël Seri with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Luke Shaw (England).
Hassane Kamara (Côte d’Ivoire) wins a free kick on the right wing.