Although merely a 'friendly', tonight's Wembley clash between the 3rd and 5th best football teams in the world spelt disaster for both nations.
Aside from the loss, English fans cannot look at the display against the Netherlands and accept it, even if only three first team members started the match. England's lack of strength in options from defence through to attack were painfully obvious in mistakes from Richards, Baines and Smalling - although the latter left the game in very unfortunate circumstances. With what appeared to be a broken nose, Klass Jan Huntelaar's full speed collision with Smalling's head was wretched to watch and the health of both players following the sport's most dangerous injury will be of paramount importance and interest.
Following the news of Scott Parker's promotion to captain, his performance was one of note for the three lions. Leading through courageous example, Parker was never shy to tackle, block and hustle the heavyweight talents of Robben, Schneider and Van Persie - and kept them quiet for the first half of the game. Johnson at right wing impressed with some good line play, and his combinations with Micah Richards will be an interesting ingredient in the decisions regarding the right sided line-up of future teams. Short of this, England look desperately short of ideas in attack. Danny Welbeck is nowhere close to being international standard, as his skill of pace is redundant with no support or service. Whereas Rooney can create chances from nothing, as well as linking up attacks before becoming the finisher, Welbeck offers neither particularly well. Frazier Cambell cannot expect to be involved in senior action for the foreseeable future, or until he has strung at least a season of quality performances together. The light for England's attacking future comes from Daniel Sturridge. The Chelsea hitman displayed real flare, confidence and skill and created some chances of serious note. He would have been on the scoresheet if not for the excellence of Stekelenberg saving his snapshot with little view of it.
Where Hart, Parker and Sturridge showed class, Baines, Welbeck and Richards need to apply themselves differently to improve the team. Sadly, all three will make the squad to the Ukraine as the depth of the nation's talent pool is not great.
This also makes the assessment of the Holland performance a little less shiny for the Dutch. In the first period, the first string Netherlands attack could not break down England's reserves. In the European Championships, they will need to score from open play and the knockout phase sides will fortify their goals much more so than Richards, Baines, Cahill and Smalling. Two of the Dutch goals came from counter attacks which England have never been able to deal with. In two banks of four, they are unbreakable, but man for man the Germans tore them apart, the Dutch did tonight, and the Spanish will be merciless. Robben's winner took a lucky deflection and although one England goal was offside, the other was carved through the Dutch defence in a rare moment of English quality.
In foresight, both teams will qualify for the quarter finals in Euro 2012, but winning is beyond them. England's reinforcements will be called upon, through injury, fatigue, and mindless kick-induced suspensions. For the Netherlands, the side look strong, but will struggle to break down the highest seeds in the tournament and following an easy run in to the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, will not find it so easy in Eastern Europe.
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