Several costly errors punished the Three Lions in the semi-finals encounter with Netherlands depriving them of a first ever final in the Uefa Nations League final.
Gareth Southgate's men ran to an early lead which was then surrendered after series of error and loss of concentration proved a persistent weakness in the Three Lions squad.
England were dominated in possession throughout by the Dutch who created the best chances in open play, and they continued to ask questions from the England defence from time to time.
Marcus Rashford’s penalty put England ahead in the first half. However bad England couldn't hold on much longer in the second half as Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt rose above John Stones to stir home a glancing header, though the 19-year-old Dutch was guilty of causing the penalty that gave England the lead after some casualness in possession caused the foul on Rashford.
Although Jesse Lingard looked well to have won it for the Three Lions at stoppages time after finishing from a nicely worked team play but was annulled after the referee's consultation that VAR.
Jordan Pickford fielded decent if tame efforts from the likes of Memphis Depay and Steven Bergwijn and for all their emerging talent elsewhere, there is a sense that Ronald Koeman’s side currently lack a bona fide front man.
Memphis was lively and provoked mistakes in the England defence but should have bagged at least a goal for himself had he not been wasteful in front of goal.
Pickford tried his best, making a fine save from Memphis after Stones was punished for his indecision but an unlucky Kyle Walker couldn't stop Promes’s effort rebounding off him and finding the back of the net.
Stones was guilty again in the third as Ross Barkley won’t be thanking his former Everton team-mate for the pass but Promes’s pressure, combined with Memphis’s cool head inside the box, put the Dutch out of sight.
This was a good opportunity to atleast make history for themselves and possibly hope for a silverware and they blew it as their lack of assuredness and sloppiness on the ball throughout the encounter, meant they wouldn't be able to dominate the midfield, control the tempo of the game nor pose too much of a threat going forward.
They will have the third-place playoff against Switzerland on Sunday, but the meaningful stuff is over. They depart Portugal with little or nothing to show.
The Nations League final still got a decent final even with the absence of too gonna such as France,Germany,Italy, with the two best teams on show so far shaping up for a decent fight.
For Southgate's men who have been impressive in Euro 2020 qualification – another reminder that they've got so much to do before they could be considered world beaters rather than the minnows they have dominated.
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