England delivered an emphatic performance at Wembley, dispatching Wales 3-0 in a one-sided friendly that was effectively over within the first 20 minutes. The match highlighted the stark contrast in class between the two sides, with England racing to a three-goal lead early on, leaving Wales with little room to respond.
Manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to stick with the same players who triumphed 5-0 over Serbia in September proved to be a wise one. The absence of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, two of England’s standout stars, was hardly felt as Morgan Rogers, in a more advanced No. 10 role, stole the spotlight. Rogers opened the scoring with a calm finish, before playing a pivotal role in the second goal, which Ollie Watkins, filling in for the injured Harry Kane, finished from close range.
Bukayo Saka then added a third, curling in a trademark left-footed shot into the top corner, further cementing England’s dominance. Wales, for all their early intent, were unable to cope with the relentless English attack. Despite some late efforts, including a header from Chris Mepham and a volley from David Brooks that forced Jordan Pickford into a good save, the Welsh could not find the back of the net.
The first half saw England tear through Wales with ease, exploiting gaps in the defense and punishing every mistake. Tuchel’s tactical setup, which included John Stones making his first appearance, worked wonders as England controlled possession and moved the ball with precision. Stones’ involvement in the opening goal, along with a superb assist from Marc Guéhi, set the tone for a dominant performance.
The second half was more subdued, with England content to control the game and make tactical adjustments. Marcus Rashford was introduced at the break and had several chances, while the Welsh side showed some signs of life towards the end, though it was too little, too late.
England’s complete superiority was evident throughout, leaving little doubt about their quality ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Latvia. As for Wales, the match served as a harsh reminder of the challenges they face against top-tier teams
