Summary

  • Use audio icon at the top of the page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

  • England 1-0 Australia - Watkins slides in opener

  • Colwill, Bowen and Watkins start for Three Lions

  • Nketiah on for debut

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Postpublished at 22:30 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    We'll wrap things up now but I'll leave you with Phil McNulty's report from Wembley here.

    Have a good weekend!

  2. 'You have to win, even if it isn't pretty'published at 22:29 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    England

    England forward James Maddison, speaking to Channel 4: "It was alright. Australia are a really good team and we did not underestimate them.

    "They were hard working, honest, really good team spirit. They made it difficult for us but you still have to come through and win the game even if it is not pretty and we did that.

    "I think it is important that when you are not at your best, you don't lose. They were so well drilled and so hard working, the chances will be limited. We still managed to win the game and it is important to keep that going.

    "Playing for England is the pinnacle, I will never ever take that for granted. Tuesday will be a great occasion, we can secure qualification with the win and that is the aim. The lads will be highly motivated because of what happened last time."

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:25 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

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    Adrian: As an Aussie, I'd taken a 1-0 loss with a hard fought defending... however, We should have won this. Better team easily. England's great attacking strengths had nothing. Don't see how England win a World Cup with such negative mentality going forward.

  4. Postpublished at 22:25 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Stephen Warnock
    Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think Gareth's far too negative. I think with a more forward-thinking manager I think we'd dominate world football. I really do with this squad of players, they're so exciting.

    I always think when you see the team sheet you go "wow, look at the players on show". However, when you know the manager you know it's not going to be like that. It's going to be more defensively rigid, but that's disappointing.

  5. 'I gave the players a tough challenge'published at 22:23 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    England

    England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to Channel 4: "We made a lot of changes, that made it really difficult or the players. It is tough playing international when you haven't got a lot of caps behind you. We were not cohesive, I gave them a really tough challenge. Australia were good, they were athletic and well organised. I am pleased for the win after putting them in the position.

    "We have given two debuts, very pleased with Ollie Watkins. There were some positives, we know we can play better but it was tough for the players. We saw a lot of things we knew. You need to give players the opportunity on this stage.

    "We were too narrow as a back three when we were building. The most joy we had was getting the ball to the feet of our wingers and get in from there.

    "In some positions we have huge depth and in others we haven't. We have to constantly keep looking. We have an under-21 team who are playing very well. We need that competition for places and of course there are some senior players who are injured."

    Best group of players since you've managed England? "Since we have been in charge yes. The young players who have come in now have a lot of experience as well, Declan Rice I think has 40 caps now. We have some powerful players, we were not quite so powerful tonight."

    On being considered among Euro 2024 favourites, if England get there: "We have to embrace it. Four or five years ago we were not quite at that level. Now the belief is there, there's no more experience the players need to go through with us or their clubs, we have Champions League winners. We have to embrace that."

  6. Postpublished at 22:17 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Paul Robinson
    Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper on Radio 5 Live

    Strikers won't care, they just want goals. It's on the record, 1-0 England and Watkins on the scoresheet.

    It's another one to his tally, he's started season excellently at club level, and the last two games he's started for England, he's scored in them.

    There's nothing more a striker can do than score goals. If he's scoring for England every time he puts on an England shirt he's doing something right.

  7. 'Watkins has hugely improved under Emery'published at 22:13 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Stephen Warnock
    Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Watkins has the predatory instinct to score that goal and make sure the job is done. He is a very clever player in the way that he plays and has hugely improved under Unai Emery.

    He's got better and got confidence in himself. Now it's about replicating that for England. Now it's adjusting his style to playing for England.

  8. 'A good all-round night'published at 22:09 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    England

    England goalscorer Ollie Watkins on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Obviously we didn't make it easy for ourselves, but it's the first time for us all playing together. Not many of us have a lot of caps. There were only a few with more experience and in the squad recently.

    "It was tough and Australia played well and they didn't make it easy for us. But you want games like that, you want a real challenge. An all-round good night.

    "They're the best ones, the tap-ins, I'll take it all day. At the end of the day it says your name on the Sky Sports app, and that's all that matters so I'll take it.

    "Whenever I have had the opportunity in an England shirt I have done well. I know I can play at the highest level with these players. Whenever I go on the field I just try and do that."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:04 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

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    Neil: Dunk has to start on Tuesday. By far the most solid centre-back we have. Be happy to see him and Stones together from the start.

  10. Postpublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Paul Robinson
    Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper on Radio 5 Live

    Look at the qualifying group, look since the World Cup, six games, won five, drawn one. It's a brilliant record from Southgate.

  11. 'Not good enough'published at 21:59 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Stephen Warnock
    Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It wasn't good enough from the England players, it was a game that passed many of them by. They were overrun and we have to give credit to the oppossition.

    But you expected England to have enough quality to dominate the game.

  12. Postpublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Paul Robinson
    Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper on Radio 5 Live

    I can't see any positives you can take from this match for England, other than all the players avoided injury.

  13. 'It is about taking your opportunity'published at 21:51 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    England

    England goal scorer Ollie Watkins, speaking to Channel 4: "It is always an honour putting on this shirt. It has been a long time coming. I have been waiting a long time for the next call up. I was looking forward to it and I wasn't going to let this opportunity slip.

    "Jack has gone to shoot and he has dragged it. I don't known if it was going in, my first thought it was going in and I took it off him. I was looking at him and saying 'not sure if it was going in'.

    "I knew I wasn't going to come off this pitch without the goal, that was in my mind."

    "I am playing with top players, I knew I'd get another chance. There was a few times before I got called up and didn't think I deserved it but now I am coming in confident in myself off the back of good form. I was not nervous and just tried to perform in front of all these fans. I scored, it was a good night.

    "There's so many good forwards around scoring goals and it is about taking your opportunity when you are on the pitch.

    "It was a tough game. A lot of us haven't played together before. We got the goal and saw it out. There's obviously a lot to work on."

  14. Postpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Paul Robinson
    Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper on Radio 5 Live

    Let's be frank, it was a really poor watch. There was no tempo to the game, or cutting edge. There was nothing in the final third.

    These are the exciting players, James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins who got the goal, but nobody really shone tonight.

    It was disjointed, there was no cohesions.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

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    Dave: Everyone needs to get off England's back. They won.

    Mark: Wins a win & Gareth’s had chance to look at some other players.

  16. 'A lethargic performance'published at 21:44 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    FT: England 1-0 Australia

    Stephen Warnock
    Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I don't think there will be many walking away from here tonight saying they've seen a classic or the next stars of England.

    It was a very lethargic performance from England, lacking in ideas. Hopefully we'll see a better performance from a different side on Tuesday.

  17. Postpublished at 21:42 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    England 1-0 Australia

    Anyone from that make your England starting XI on Tuesday?

    Trent Alexander-Arnold was very good in the role he was asked to perform.

  18. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:39 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    England 1-0 Australia

    All over as Ollie Watkins' goal seals the win for England.

    Not the most memorable game in the world but Gareth Southgate may have learnt something about his wider squad.

  19. Postpublished at 21:37 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    England 1-0 Australia

    Paul Robinson
    Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper on Radio 5 Live

    I'm not complaining, I don't think many more could take another three minutes.

  20. Postpublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 13 October 2023

    England 1-0 Australia

    John Murray
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Three minutes added on? That's a blast from the past!