Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the better of one of his future Leeds United teammates when England met Wales in their most recent meeting at Wembley in 2020.
Former Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin was one of the biggest names to arrive at Elland Road this summer, as he looks to recapture his promising early career form.
Calvert-Lewin’s star was very much on the rise in October 2020, when England last met Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium.
Having scored 13 goals in the Premier League for Everton, Calvert-Lewin started the following season in red-hot form, with eight goals in five games, including two hat-tricks in a month.
He picked up where he left off in his first appearance for England, scoring on his debut and getting the better of some of his future Leeds United teammates in the process.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored against his future Leeds United teammates
In hindsight, there was a distinct Leeds United influence when England played Wales at Wembley in 2020, as Kalvin Phillips and Calvert-Lewin lined up for the home side.
They faced a Wales line-up which included future Leeds players Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and one-time Leeds loanee Connor Roberts, alongside former Marcelo Bielsa favourite Tyler Roberts.
England ran out comfortable winners in the game, and Calvert-Lewin wasted no time in making his mark for his country, opening the scoring in the 26th minute.
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Calvert-Lewin peeled off the back of Rodon to find space in the box and made no mistake, heading home a cross from Jack Grealish from close range to give England an early lead.
The eerie spectacle, played at an empty Wembley, eventually finished 3-0 with Danny Ings completing the scoring with a spectacular overhead kick.
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Wales are not coming to Wembley to make up the numbers
There will be a strong Leeds contingent in the Welsh team that lines up at Wembley, with Rodon, Ampadu and goalkeeper Karl Darlow all expected to start.
Wales last won at Wembley in 1977 and have a crucial qualifier against Belgium after the friendly. However, head coach Craig Bellamy insists that his team are not there to merely make up the numbers.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the game, Bellamy said: “We’re here to come and play, to play our brand of football in the way we play it in difficult circumstances in an incredible place like Wembley, which it is.
“So to us, it’s excitement. And just like I said, we’re not here as tourists to enjoy the occasion. No, we’re here to be the best version of ourselves. And that allows you to be excited and also to have fun.”
