When the great Hungary, of Puskás, Kocsis and Hidgakoti, defeated England 3: 6 at Wembley in 1953, the English realized that they were no longer the best team in the world.
Almost 70 years later it was again the Hungarian team that last night (Tuesday) beat England on the hip at home (this time at the Molino Stadium in Wolverhampton), to raise big question marks as to the true condition of the Three Lions team, five months before the World Cup in Qatar.
The fact that the game was "only" in the League of Nations does not matter this time.
For Gareth Southgate and his players have looked bad in all four of their games in the last ten days.
England lost 1: 0 to Hungary in Budapest, finished 1: 1 with Germany, 0: 0 with Italy and yesterday was defeated 4: 0 over the Magyars.
This is the heaviest loss of the England team since it was defeated 5: 1 by Pele's Brazil 58 years ago!
England team in shock.
Humiliating loss against Hungary,
Two points out of 12, last place at home and a great chance of relegation to the second tier in the League of Nations, 6 mandatory goals and not a single field goal.
The goal against Germany Harry Kane scored with a penalty.
Fans of the England team left no doubt yesterday about their opinion of the team, which only a year ago reached the Euro final and four years ago reached the World Cup semi-final.
The contempt whistles began already after Roland Schalai scored the first goal for Hungary in the 16th minute.
When the Freiburg striker doubled the lead in the 70th minute, many of the stadium's residents simply got up and left.
Those who remained continued to whistle contemptuously, shouting at Southgate: "In the morning you will be fired," and "you have no idea what you are doing."
Hungary celebrates on the head of England, Photo: Reuters
England looked bad on offense yesterday, as in all their last games, and also on defense.
Mark Goehee, the 21-year-old Crystal Palace stopper, looks at a loss.
And John Stones, the senior stopper, saw a second yellow card 8 minutes to go, after Juliette Noj put Hungary up 0-3.
The English crowd once again honored Harry Maguire with scathing contempt as the Manchester United stopper came in towards the end.
And he also could not have prevented substitute Daniel Gazdag from setting a stunning 0: 4.
It was Gareth Southgate's toughest night since taking over as national coach, on September 27, 2016, almost 6 years ago.
To his credit it should be said that he did not blame anyone for the loss and took all the responsibility on himself.
Southgate said: "It's my responsibility. I tried to make changes in the squad during the four crowded games, I tested new players, I gave rest to others. But no doubt, what happened tonight is a shocking experience. Tonight I experienced what my predecessors in the role experienced. I do not mean to say That it does not hurt, but it is clear to me what we tried to do in these four games.
Bukayo Saka has a hard time digesting,
"People will rightly say 'what is he talking about?'
"I remind everyone that we've also had some amazing nights in the last four years, and now we've experienced the other side. That's the reality of football."
Captain Harry Kane said: "This is our first big loss in a long time. This is not the time to panic. Let's not forget where we came from, our first final in 60 years, a World Cup semi-final. I understand the frustration of the fans, but we will continue to work to make A successful World Cup. "
To the scornful remarks directed at Southgate, Kane responded: "This is not a question I need to answer at all."
The defeat last night has already entered the history books of the England team.
Ever since she started playing international games in 1872, 150 years ago - she has never lost at home by four goals without scoring herself!
And the last home loss by four goals?
It happened in 1928, 94 years ago, two years before the first World Cup, when Scotland beat them 1: 5. And since that famous 3: 6 69 years ago, no team has scored four goals (or more) against England on English soil - until Hungary Second blow.
England have two more preseason games left before heading to Qatar in mid-November.
On 23 September it will play against Italy at San Siro and three days later will host Germany at Wembley, the last two games in the League of Nations, which will also determine whether England will indeed be relegated to the second tier.
Southgate.
The fans did not feel sorry for him,
Until then, Southgate will have to draw quite a few professional conclusions, both regarding its staff and the method of play.
Many commentators in England claim that Southgate is not making proper use of two Manchester City stars, Phil Foden and Jack Grillish.
Yesterday Poden came in only in the 68th minute and Grillish remained on the bench.
What is certain is that all the talk about England's desire and ability to win the World Cup, which has been heard quite a bit in the last year, will not be heard again in the coming months.
This defeat against Hungary brought England to the ground of reality, put everyone in proportions, and also put in quite a few doubts - both in terms of the quality of the players and no less, as to the qualities of Southgate.
By the way, Harry Kane is absolutely right in his comment about Southgate.
His job is guaranteed at least until the end of the World Cup.
It's true that the last four games have been bad, and the last of them a real catastrophe - but Southgate has promoted the team in his six years in office and luckily he has five months to make the necessary corrections.
To be sure, the countdown has already begun, ahead of England's opening World Cup match, on 21 November against Iran, at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
There will no longer be forgiveness for failure there.
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