Roy Keane calls Wales a 'shellshocked lower league team' after England's three-goal blitz in the opening 20 minutes at Wembley

12 hours ago 14

By TARA ANSON-WALSH, WOMEN'S FOOTBALL REPORTER

Published: 22:32 BST, 9 October 2025 | Updated: 22:33 BST, 9 October 2025

Roy Keane described Wales as a 'shellshocked lower league team' in the first half after they fell three goals behind inside 20 minutes against England at Wembley.

Morgan Rogers gave England their quickest lead since Luke Shaw's early strike in the Euro 2020 final, smashing home from six yards out in the third minute following Declan Rice's corner.

Unlike that match under the same famous arch against Italy four years ago, Thomas Tuchel's side refused to give their opponents any breathing space.

Ollie Watkins doubled the advantage eight minutes later with a simple tap-in at the back post. He was later withdrawn at half-time after clattering into the post and appearing to be in serious pain, clutching his knee.

The records continued to tumble as Bukayo Saka came last, producing a sublime, trademark finish from the edge of the box with his left foot to become Arsenal's highest scorer for the national team with 13 goals.

Keane, however, slammed the Wales performance, saying they played like a 'lower-league team' and were unable to compete with England. 

Morgan Rogers gave England their quickest lead since Luke Shaw's early strike in the Euro 2020 final, smashing home from six yards out in the third minute after Declan Rice's corner

Roy Keane slammed the Wales performance, saying they played like a 'lower-league team'

'It was a poor start with England dominating every aspect, quality and physicality,' Keane said

At half-time, Tuchel's side had registered 11 shots, five of them on target, while Wales failed to muster a single effort.

The 54-year-old said: ‘(Wales) all end up ball watching. They are not competing, it was a poor start with England dominating every aspect, quality and physicality.

'No one is doing their job. They look shellshocked, like a lower league team playing a Premier League team in the FA Cup.

‘There are brilliant players like Saka coming in and running at you, we could make excuses for Wales, but you still have to do the basics right. They have not competed.’

It was the first time England had scored three goals inside the opening 20 minutes since November 1987 against Yugoslavia.

After the match, Tuchel praised his side’s performance, saying: 'We had one and a half training days to prepare against a well-trained team and we did very well. We could have been 5-0 up at half-time.'

Tuchel has repeatedly emphasised the importance of team spirit during this camp, stressing that he will only recall the exiled Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish if it benefits squad unity.

It was the first time England had scored three goals inside the opening 20 minutes since 1987

Touching on that again this evening, particularly in the absence of injured captain Harry Kane, Tuchel added: 'We are ready for any team effort. Serbia was the next example of teamwork. 

'We created a lot of chances. We could use Harry all the time, but we need to play without Harry and Jude, the guys are injured. I think we played an excellent first half.'

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