Scotland 1-3 England: Bellingham key man as visitors win at Hampden

England continued their modern-day superiority in the 150-year rivalry with Scotland by beating their in-form hosts in a friendly at a raucous Hampden.

A shaken Scotland eventually awoke the home crowd as Harry Maguire’s lazy leg sent Andy Robertson’s cross screeching beyond Aaron Ramsdale.

However, England’s classy play and intricate movement would pay once more as Harry Kane slotted home the visitors’ third after a mesmeric Bellingham assist.

The first official meeting between these two took place on 30 November 1872 at the West of Scotland Cricket Club.

Six miles and 150 years on, this great rivalry captured the imagination of a Scottish public with a yearning for victory founded in genuine optimism.

Top of their European Championship group with five wins from five and facing an England team held by Ukraine on Saturday, head coach Steve Clarke spoke pre-match about the desire to see how much his team had narrowed the gap.

In the end, a fluid and ruthless first half from Gareth Southgate’s team offered a sobering reply. The visitors were slick, composed and in control and deserved the lead when it eventually arrived.

Kyle Walker lashed the ball towards the Scotland goal from inside the area, only for Foden’s quick thinking and feet helping the ball divert beyond Angus Gunn.

Scotland barely had a chance to gather themselves before it was two. An uncharacteristic lack of composure from Robertson saw an attempted clearance prodded towards Bellingham on the penalty spot to scud home.

The introduction of Ryan Christie after the break breathed life into a flat Scotland, and the lifeline via the unfortunate Maguire ignited a fire inside Clarke’s side as England rocked.

But Bellingham’s class would show once more. With nine minutes to go, the Real Madrid man danced by two trailing dark blue jerseys, slipped the ball to his captain, and Bayern Munich’s leading man made no mistake.

Player of the match – Jude Bellingham

England offer answers while Scots’ wait goes on – analysis

You can’t always read too much into friendlies, but there were a few questions answered in Glasgow.

While far from any sort of crisis, England’s disjointed performance at the weekend raised more than a few eyebrows. Against Scotland, the zip to their play was a joy at times as they carved their hosts open in the first half.

Kane’s willingness to drop deep to offer an out was often key, as was the blistering attacking prowess of Bellingham and Rashford. The link-up play was a joy to watch, unless you were wearing a dark blue jersey.

For Scotland, this is the kind of test they will surely face next summer in Germany. Their spot at the Euros is one positive result away, and previous wins in Norway and at home to Spain have fuelled a belief they can mix it with Europe’s best.

Yet trying to conjure the dynamism which has thrust them forward in recent months didn’t really happen, with the second-half performance perhaps coming a bit too late.

A Scotland on the up will have other nights, but this one belonged to Bellingham and England.

Match stats

• England earned their 600th victory in all competitions, the first European nation to reach this milestone in international football.
• This was just Scotland’s second defeat in their last 20 home games in all competitions (W14 D4), ending a run of six straight victories.
• Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Kane (Bayern Munich) are the first to score for England against Scotland while playing for clubs outside of England, after Kevin Keegan in May 1979 (Hamburg) and Paul Gascoigne at Euro 1996 (Rangers).
• Bellingham became the first England player to both score and assist a goal in a match against Scotland since Keegan in May 1979.
• With his assist for Foden’s opener, Walker has now been involved in a goal in each of his last three England appearances (assist v North Macedonia, goal v Ukraine).
• There were just 167 seconds between England’s opening two goals, with those strikes the only two shots on target for either side in the opening 45 minutes.
• Maguire became just the second substitute to score an own goal for England, after Eric Dier against Australia in May 2016. It was the first own goal England have conceded against Scotland since May 1974 (Colin Todd).

What next?

Scotland have the opportunity to rubber stamp their Euro 2024 place in the forthcoming international break, with their next game in Spain on 12 October (19:45 BST). England host Australia in a friendly a day later (19:45).