England’s Euro 2016 preparations were dealt a blow on Tuesday as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Netherlands.
The hosts went into the match looking to build on their memorable 3-2 victory over Germany in Berlin on Saturday, but they made a slow start to the contest and it was Fraser Forster who was the busier of the two keepers in the opening half an hour.
His first save came from a well-struck Vincent Janssen effort from just outside the box, and he was called upon again 10 minutes later to push Georginio Wijnaldum’s curling strike away.
England’s first chance finally arrived just before the half-hour mark when a quick move down the left flank ended with Danny Rose finding Jamie Vardy, who lashed his effort over the top from inside the area.
The opening goal did come just four minutes before half time, however, as a fluid team move ended with Adam Lallana and Kyle Walker combining to set up Vardy for a simple finish from inside the area.
England started the second half quickly too, with both Sturridge and Lallana having sights of goal in the opening five minutes, but they soon found themselves pegged back as Netherlands became the first visiting side to score at Wembley against England since November 2014.
The goal came from the penalty spot after Rose had been penalised for handball, although the visitors’ pressure began when a slip from Stones allowed Janssen clean through on goal.
Forster made an important one-handed stop to deny the full debutant, but he could do nothing to prevent Janssen from placing the penalty past him into the top corner moments later.
It was England who were soon creating the better openings again, though, and Vardy came close to a spectacular second shortly after the hour mark when his vicious long-range strike was tipped over by Jeroen Zoet.
It was the visitors who took the lead with a little over 10 minutes remaining, however, as Janssen barged Phil Jagielka off the ball and, with England calling for a free kick, picked out Luciano Narsingh at the back post for the sub to plant his finish home.
England went in search of an equaliser to avoid just their third home defeat under Roy Hodgson, but Harry Kane could not provide it when he turned away from his man before drilling a low effort wide of the target.
That was as close as the hosts came to levelling things up as they fell to just their second defeat since their exit from the 2014 World Cup, while Holland extended their unbeaten streak against the Three Lions to seven matches.
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