Roy Hodgson's youthful England squad struggled to a 1-0 win over Norway on Wednesday night, in a game which was more for experimenting with the next generation than it was getting a result.
Hodgson had a tough task replacing the retired 'hundred club' players Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole. With Leighton Baines, Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson it appears Hodgson has his replacements for the legends in mind.
It took a Wayne Rooney penalty to separate the two sides, who both struggled to find the final ball in an empty Wembley. With a crowd of just 40,181, it was England's lowest attended game at the new Wembley stadium.
Hodgson made Rooney captain in the week, replacing Gerrard, and he seemed to struggle to really threaten Nyland in the Norway goal, as did the rest of the side. England dominated the first half, with Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge having England's best chance, lobbing a ball just over the bar. England kept knocking on the door but just couldn't find a breakthrough in the first half.
it was the visitors who started the second half off better, with Josh King of Blackburn Rovers threatening Joe Hart with a corner, forcing a top save from the Manchester City number 1. Gary Cahill then nearly gifted the Norwegians the goal when he passed the ball into the path of King who nearly found the net.
The biggest moment of the game came when Raheem Sterling made a run into the area only to be brought down by Norway's Elabdoulaoui - referee Jorge Sousa not hesitating in pointing to the spot. Captain Rooney stepped up, and slotted the ball down to Nyland's right, beating the goalkeeper and giving England the lead.
The experimenting continued when Hodgson brought on James Milner, Danny Welbeck and Fabian Delph for his international debut. It was Welbeck who impressed from the bench, giving England a much needed boost. He looked energetic and strong, and easily England's strongest chance of a goal.
Callum Chambers was another who made his debut, replacing fellow debutant John Stones, with Phil Jaglielka and Rickie Lambert coming on for Cahill and Sturridge respectively.With these substitutions came a new formation, Hodgson switched from a 4-2-2-2 to a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation, with Sterling sitting into a central attacking midfield role.
Sterling created one more great chance; an England counter attack as the Liverpool man picked out Milner, who couldn't make anything of it.
In the end it was a dull affair for the 40,181 fans who turned up, England seem to be lacking that real attacking edge. They created so many chances but just couldn't break down Norway's defence, nor find the final ball to put it in the back of the net.
Looking to England's next game, the start of the Euro 2016 Qualifiers in Switzerland, who does Hodgson start with? Welbeck looked more impressive than Sturridge and Rooney, but he surely can't replace the captain.
Tonight will have given the youngsters a chance to impress, but as Alan Hansen once infamously said 'you can't win anything with kids.' The old guard need to step up and show more fight, as this England side could be much better, should they find that poachers touch.