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Vietnam develops ‘world’s first’ African Swine Fever vaccine for commercial use

REUTERS

HANOI — Vietnam said it successfully developed a vaccine to administer to pigs to fight African Swine Fever, with the aim of becoming the first country to commercially produce and export it.

African Swine Fever, one of the most devastating livestock diseases, was first detected in Vietnam in February 2019 and forced the country to cull around 20% of its hog herd last year.

It originated in Africa before spreading to Europe and Asia and has killed hundreds of millions of pigs globally. African Swine Fever is harmless to humans.

“This is a milestone of the veterinary industry,” Deputy Agriculture Minister Phung Duc Tien said in a statement. “With immunity lasting six months, the vaccine will be a shield for hog-raising industry and pig production globally.”

The vaccine has been in development since November 2019 in partnership with United States experts, with five clinical trials held. Its safety and efficacy was confirmed by the Agricultural Research Service under the US Department of Agriculture, Tien said.

“This success opens great expectations and the room to export African Swine Fever vaccine produced in Vietnam is huge,” Tien added. He did not provide a timeframe for when the vaccine could be exported or estimate of Vietnam’s production capacity.

Although the swine fever outbreak has subsided in Vietnam, allowing farmers to rebuild hog herds, the virus is still hurting farms in some countries. — Reuters

Peso may drop further versus the greenback

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO could depreciate versus the dollar this week on expectations that inflation went beyond 5% last month.

The local unit closed at P52.86 per dollar on Friday, losing six centavos from its P52.80 finish on Friday, based on Bankers Association of the Philippines data.

It also dropped by 54 centavos from its P52.32 close a week earlier.

The peso opened Friday’s session at P52.82 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P52.92, while its intraday best was at P52.70 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged rose to $1.128 billion on Friday from $1.099 billion on Thursday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort attributed the local unit’s depreciation last week to high global oil prices.

Oil prices settled higher, buoyed by expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ decision to increase production targets by slightly more than planned will not affect tight global supply much and by rising demand as China eases the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related restrictions, Reuters reported.

Brent crude rose by 1.8% to settle at $119.72 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude advanced by 1.7% to $118.87 last week. Both benchmarks were up by more than $3 in after-hours trading.

For this week, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said trading will likely be driven by US and Philippine inflation data.

The US consumer price index (CPI) for the 12 months through April rose by 8.3%, down from an 8.5% annual rate reported in the prior month, which was the largest year-on-year gain in 40 years. Friday’s inflation report for May is one of the last key pieces of data before the US Federal Reserve’s June 14-15 meeting, at which the central bank is widely expected to raise rates by another 50 basis points (bps), Reuters reported.

The CPI report comes as investors gauge how the 75 bps of monetary tightening already delivered by the Fed this year is affecting growth. Employment data released Friday showed that US employers hired more workers than expected in May and maintained a strong pace of wage increases, signs of strength that could keep the Fed on an aggressive monetary policy tightening path.

In the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and analysts expect May headline inflation to have breached 5% amid higher fuel and food prices.

A BusinessWorld poll of 16 analysts held last week yielded a median estimate of 5.4% for May inflation, matching the midpoint of the BSP’s 5% to 5.8% estimate.

If realized, this would be faster than the 4.9% in April and the 4.1% print in May 2021. This would also be well above the central bank’s 2-4% target for the year.

Headline inflation last hit the 5% level in December 2018 and stood at 5.2% that month.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the May CPI report on Tuesday, June 7.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno last month said the central bank is likely to raise key interest rates by another 25 bps at its next policy review on June 23 following a hike of the same magnitude at its May 19 meeting to curb growing inflationary pressures.

At the May meeting, the central bank upwardly revised its average inflation forecast for 2022 to 4.6% from the previous forecast of 4.3%, above the 2-4% target band. For 2023, the BSP’s inflation forecast was hiked to 3.9% from 3.6% previously.

Mr. Ricafort and Mr. Asuncion said other reports that could drive peso-dollar trading this week include trade, employment and reserves data.

Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P52.50 to P53 per dollar, while Mr. Asuncion expects the local unit to move within P52.40 to P53. — K.B. Ta-asan with Reuters

Consumers spending more upbeat in the next 3 months

CONSUMER sentiment deteriorated in the second quarter due to concerns about inflation, low incomes, and persistent high unemployment, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said, though it noted that the outlook is more positive over the next 12 months. Read the full story.

Consumers spending more upbeat in the next 3 months

Volatility seen as market awaits May inflation data

TRADING on the stock market is expected to be volatile this week ahead of the release of May inflation data, which could give the central bank a reason to hike rates anew to control rising prices.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) improved by 54.57 points or 0.81% to close at 6,741.40 on Friday, while the broader all shares index rose by 20.73 points or 0.57% to 3,602.52.

Week on week, the PSEi went up by 15.26 points from its close of 6,726.14 on May 27.

Online brokerage 2TradeAsia.com said the release of the May inflation report this week will be a key focus for market participants as this might dictate the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) next policy move.

“It will be interesting how the consumer price index will react month on month as the oil situation, while still outside of the baseline pre-Russia-Ukraine, has stabilized in the past quarter,” 2TradeAsia.com said in a report.

The brokerage said the market wants to see the supply-side drivers for last month’s inflation print to differentiate from the election-related impact that could have bloated the figure unnaturally.

“Though the BSP chief already expressed a possibility for another 25-basis-point (bp) rate hike this month, any whiff of entrenched inflation will make monetary policy unpredictable, and thus unsettle both equity and bond markets,” 2TradeAsia.com added.

“We may see the index head higher in the coming week as technical conditions continue to be favorable. Selling pressure appears to have eased… Nevertheless, economic data releases may prompt reactive moves which could drive volatility,” China Bank Securities Corp. Research Director Rastine Mackie D. Mercado said in an e-mail.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the May inflation data on Tuesday, June 7.

Analysts said inflation likely accelerated and went above 5% last month as food and oil prices continue to climb due to disruptions in global supply chains.

A BusinessWorld poll of 16 analysts yielded a median estimate of 5.4% for May inflation, matching the midpoint of the BSP’s 5% to 5.8% estimate.

If realized, this would be faster than the 4.9% in April and the 4.1% print in May 2021. This would also be well above the central bank’s 2-4% target for the year.

Headline inflation last hit the 5% level in December 2018 and stood at 5.2% that month.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno last month said the central bank is likely to raise key interest rates by another 25 bps at its next policy review on June 23 following a hike of the same magnitude at its May 19 meeting to curb growing inflationary pressures.

At the May meeting, the central bank upwardly revised its average inflation forecast for 2022 to 4.6% from the previous forecast of 4.3%, above the 2-4% target band. For 2023, the BSP’s inflation forecast was hiked to 3.9% from 3.6% previously.

For the coming week, both China Bank Securities’ Mr. Mercado and 2TradeAsia.com placed the PSEi’s support level at 6,660 and resistance between 6,850 and 6,900. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Suzuki PHL opens refurbished Pasig, Araneta Center dealerships

Suzuki Auto Pasig — PHOTO FROM SUZUKI PHILIPPINES

SUZUKI PHILIPPINES, Inc. (SPH) recently announced the opening of two newly renovated dealerships, Suzuki Auto Araneta Center and Suzuki Auto Pasig. The two were virtually inaugurated last May 26th in online ceremonies attended by ANC+ Group of Companies Chairman and CEO Anthony Cheng, as well as members of ETNA Motors, Inc.; Mt. Sinai Motors Corp.; and SPH management team led by General Manager for Automobile Norihide Takei and General Manager for After-Sales Service and Marine Tamotsu Shimizu.

Suzuki Auto Araneta Center is the ANC+ Group of Companies’ 12th Suzuki auto dealership, and will resume operations under the new management team of ETNA Motors, Inc. It is located at the LGF Ali Mall, Time Square Ave. cor. P. Tuazon Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City.

On the other hand, Suzuki Auto Pasig now relocated to Lot 1A-2 E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C5), Bagong Ilog, Pasig, and promises to provide improved services to an expected wider clientele with its 930-sqm footprint with a bigger service center with seven bays, and a showroom that can display two units.

“It is with great joy that we announce the resumption of operations in Araneta Center, as well as the relocation of Suzuki Auto Pasig to a new and better dealership with bigger and improved facilities,” said Mr. Takei. “Suzuki Philippines is looking forward to this year’s continued success, in collaboration with our partners and loyal patrons.”

For more information, visit any of the 72 authorized Suzuki Auto dealerships nationwide or http://suzuki.com.ph/auto. For daily updates, like Suzuki Auto Philippines’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SuzukiAutoPh or follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SuzukiAutoPh and Instagram (@suzukiautoph).

Market bullish on BPI as borrowing costs increase

BW FILE PHOTO

INVESTORS remain positive on Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) as it stands to benefit from rising borrowing costs.

Data from the Philippine Stock Exchange showed a total of P1.887 billion worth of 19.340 million BPI shares were traded from May 30 to June 3, making it the ninth most actively traded issue that week.

Shares in the fourth-largest universal and commercial bank in terms of total assets finished at P95.00 apiece on Friday, down 0.6% week on week from the P95.60 close on May 27. BPI has gained 4.3% since the P91.05 finish on the first trading day of the year.

Analysts said banks like BPI could see higher revenue after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last month hiked benchmark rates for the first time since November 2018 by 25 basis points (bps).

The central bank increased borrowing costs to combat rising inflationary pressures brought by higher fuel and food costs.

In April, the consumer price index rose by 4.9% year on year, already above the central bank’s 2-4% target range and the revised 4.6% forecast this year.

BSP also signaled another 25-bp hike in benchmark interest rates at its next policy review on June 23.

Currently, the overnight reverse repurchase rate is 2.25%, while overnight deposit and lending rates are 1.75% and 2.75%, respectively.

“BPI stands to gain as interest income is the main growth driver after first-quarter earnings was released last month,” Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a mobile phone message on Friday.

Mercantile Securities Corp. Analyst Jeff Radley C. See said in a Viber message that although the sentiment of the market is not that good, “movements in the financial sector especially on the top 3 banks looks bullish due to the increase in rates by the BSP.”

“Investors are still in a wait-and-see scenario as they await for the new [Philippine] president at the end of June,” he added.

In the first quarter, BPI’s attributable net income rose by 59.6% year on year to P7.984 billion.

Its net interest income went up 12.7% annually to P18.99 billion in the January-March period. Impairment losses also thinned by 30.6% to P2.5 billion from P3.6 billion a year ago.

“We expect BPI to go on sideways after moving up this week with a near-term support of P92.00 per share and a resistance at P98.80 per share with general market outlook remains at negative,” Mr. Pangan said.

Mr. See placed BPI’s support levels this week at P93.00 and P89.00, while resistance levels at P99.70 and P104.00. — L.O. Pilar

Santo Tomas grabs its third title in row in beach volleyball

By John Bryan Ulanday

SANTO Tomas captured its third straight title in the UAAP men’s beach volleyball, fending off a gritty challenge from National University in the thrilling finale on Sunday at the Sands SM By The Bay.

Rancel Varga and Jaron Requinton proved to be a dazzling duo for the Tiger Spikers, whose escape act in the back-and-forth first set paved the way to their successful title retention.

Overall, it’s the sixth title for Santo Tomas as the league’s winningest beach volleyball squad.

“Our goal is to win the championship, ‘yung three-peat po. Bonus na lang po ‘yung MVP,” said Mr. Varga following a stellar performance buoyed by the presence of his family.

With Santo Tomas’ dynasty on the line, Mr. Varga got a needed help from veteran Mr. Requinton who was fielded only in the tailend of the eliminations from being the team’s third player.

Mr. Requinton stamped his class as a national team veteran highlighted by a clinching block in the first set for a 1-0 cushion. There was no looking back for Messrs. Varga, Requinton and the Tiger Spikers since then in a more convincing second set win.

Earlier, La Salle bested University of the Philippines, 21-17, 21-17, to win the bronze medal behind Rookie of the Year Noel Kampton.

Style (06/06/22)

COS launches Love for All Pride collection

IN celebration of Global Pride 2022, COS presents Love for All, a limited-edition collection of three unique designs, globally. The collection was made in collaboration with creators from the LGBTQIA+ community: performance poet, trans-visibility campaigner, and model Kai-Isaiah Jamal; artist and creative director Zipeng Zhu; and musician and award-winning actor SOKO. The collection incorporates the personal touch of each talent, celebrating their style and individuality. Using COS’ timeless, gender-neutral T-shirts as a canvas, Zipeng Zhu’s iconic, bold typography forms a LOVE emblem in embroidery, with colors from the Progress flag. The second T-shirt design reveals an original poem by Kai-Isaiah Jamal, whose work puts language to experiences that can be hard to express. COS continues to champion the queer community, raising awareness of ongoing human rights issues by donating 100% of the collection’s profit to support charities that uphold human rights and the right to love, whoever you are. In the Philippines, COS has partnered with LoveYourself and Metro Manila Pride. Throughout June, selected styles from Pride Limited Edition will be available at COS SM Aura Premier.

Sperry celebrates Pride Month

SPERRY celebrates love, acceptance, and individuality with the release of two Pride-themed shoes this month. The brand’s new signature silhouettes, the Soletide sneaker (P4,795) and the A/O Float boat shoe (P3,295), are reimagined in bold touches of the colors of the rainbow flag. Sperry’s classic sneaker takes a stand with a perforated reclaimed leather upper inspired by the Pride flag. A rainbow outsole celebrates love and equality. This shoe comes in both men’s and women’s sizes. Meanwhile, the unisex Authentic Original boat shoe is made to float with this EVA foam version, sporting a unique kelp print upper, spanning the colors of the rainbow. Its super lightweight and flexible construction features strategically placed “gills” on the waterline and breathable “portholes” topside to keep feet fresh. Kelp was chosen as this year’s #Pride pattern by Sperry because it is powerful, beautiful, and plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, just like LGTBQ+ members play a crucial role in our society. Get a pair of free Sperry Socks and a P500 voucher with any purchase from the Pride Party Collection. The collection is available on Sperry.com.ph and selected Sperry retail stores.

2 Saucony shoes for the price of 1

SAUCONY, a footwear brand best known for its running shoes and fashionable retro sneaks, has a big summertime deal running until June 30: Buy one pair and get a 2nd one free. The sale is applicable for both men’s and women’s styles while supplies last. Pay only for the price of the higher priced pair. This exclusive deal is offered only at Saucony TriNoma, Saucony Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Complex Lifestyle Stores nationwide. Only single receipt transactions for footwear are eligible for this promo; not applicable for bags and apparel. Promo not valid in conjunction with other promotions or discounts. For a view of the styles, visit Saucony Philippines’ official webstore www.saucony.com.ph.

Adidas collaborates with Jappy Agoncillo on shoes, T-shirts

FOLLOWING the release of the adidas City Shop “Manila Hoops” T-shirt collection in collaboration with Filipino muralist and illustrator Jappy Agoncillo, adidas Philippines unveils the next chapter of its hyperlocal collaboration with this featured artist through the launch of the D.O.N Issue #3 “Origin Story.” A special edition release of NBA Star Donovan Mitchell’s signature basketball shoe, the Filipino-designed colorway will be available starting June 10. Inspired by Filipinos’ vibrant street style, Agoncillo’s love for superhero comic books, and the heroic origin story of 3-time NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell, the Filipino-designed colorway features unique elements that pay tribute to both Donovan and Agoncillo’s roots: the heel tab features a wing tip icon that represents Donovan’s college team, the Louisville Cardinals; tiger stripes make an appearance in the heel of the shoe as well; the “Origin Story’s” sock liners feature illustrations of Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong to pay homage to Donovan’s current team, the Utah Jazz; the shoe’s upper also features a halftone pattern similar to those seen in classic superhero comic books; the outsoles of the shoe feature a map of Elmsford, New York, Donovan’s home state on the right shoe, and a map of Manila on the left; on the straps across the shoe’s laces is Donovan’s “Determination Over Negativity” mantra facing the wearer. Meanwhile, Agoncillo’s new City Shop “Manila Hoops” T-shirt collection comes in two designs; one for men and the other for women. The men’s design features a basketball player on the move, while balancing a cup of taho (a soy-based snack) on his head. This is available in black, dark blue, and red colorways. The women’s design features the diverse women of Manila and is available in white and black colorways. Drawing inspiration from Filipinos’ love for basketball and diverse street culture, both shirt designs bring to life the Pinoy street life with references to signature Filipino street food. Making the shirt more uniquely Filipino, key landmarks such as the Manila city skyline, iconic City Hall, and the Roxas Blvd. can be seen in the design. Retailing for P1,550, the adidas City Shop x Jappy Agoncillo “Manila Hoops” Collection is exclusively available in adidas Brand Center Glorietta. The D.O.N. Issue #3 “Origin Story” is the fourth Filipino-designed adidas footwear — following the releases of Harden Vol. 5 “Manila Heritage
and Quiccs Forum by toy designer Juanito “Quiccs” Maiquez and the Ultraboost DNA City Pack by Gregg “Egg Fiasco” Guleserian. The new D.O.N. Issue #3 “Origin Story” (P5,800) will be available first at the adidas Brand Center and adidas.com.ph starting June 10, and will be available in other adidas stores across the Philippines and Southeast Asia on June 12.

June the month for men with Shang

SHANGRI-LA Plaza mall rounds up all the fun things to buy for and do on Father’s Day — and for the rest of June as it celebrates Men’s Month. Head over to the Nespresso Pop-Up Store to bring the ultimate café experience home. Mall guests can check out the range of coffee machines like the handy Essenzo Mini and the Creatista Plus for barista-level brews. At the store, coffee specialists offer complimentary coffee tastings. Get Dad all pampered up at Bruno’s Barbers for grooming services such as deep cleansing facial and foot spa and pedicure cleaning. There’s also Bowman Bear Barbershop & Spa which offers massage services. Get him a suit expertly created by T.M. Lewin. For an added pop of color, Daniel Hechter has racing suits and everyday travel shirts in a variety of colors, while Marks & Spencer completes the look with its dapper collection of cufflinks, belts, and ties. There will be a show on Father’s Day, June 19, 6 p.m., at the Grand Atrium featuring acoustic crooner Paolo Santos. Cap off Men’s Month by checking out all the home lifestyle spaces that are set up on June 20 to 29 at the Grand Atrium. With the help of Rustan’s Department Store, men can get ideas on how they can create their very own gadget-filled workstation, gaming room, or walk-in closets. There will also be cars on display, in case he’s considering getting a new ride. If dad is into DIY projects, take him to Shangri-La Plaza’s True Value, which has the latest materials and power tools he’ll need. This trusty hardware also carries the latest smart gadgets and outdoor living essentials to upgrade his mancave and set up his own relaxing space in the garden. For updates and inquiries, follow Shangri-La Plaza on Facebook at www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial and on Instagram @shangrilaplazaofficial.

Special Father’s Day gifts from Montblanc

THIS FATHER’S DAY, fuel passions and goals with a different kind of gift from a selection of leather goods, writing instruments, watches and smart technology, creatively designed and carefully crafted by Montblanc. The Montblanc Meisterstück Glacier Collection encourage him to write a new chapter inspired by the icy landscapes of eternal glaciers. The Montblanc Meisterstück Glacier writing instruments evoke the awe-inspiring beauty the glaciers of the Mont Blanc mountain. Then there is the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Watch, its first ever certified diving watch. It comes in a 41mm stainless steel case with a bicolor ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel and a case back featuring a 3D relief engraving of an iceberg and a scuba diver exploring the glacial waters below. The watch comes in three different dial colors — blue, green, and black — accompanied by an interchangeable V-shaped stainless-steel bracelet that can be quickly and easily switched for a rubber strap. Then there are Montblanc MB01 Headphones which bring state-of-the-art noise cancellation technology into the world of luxury business lifestyle. Buckle up with elegance and style with Montblanc leather belts which are paired with titanium, black and rubberized finish buckles in a horseshoe shape or in the distinctive Montblanc “M” design, or with the heritage-inspired elegance of vintage palladium, vintage gold and bronze finished buckles with leather in signature colors. Finally, give him the Montblanc Meisterstück Writing Instrument, a classic that has endured because of its aesthetic beauty and functional excellence. The simplicity of its bold silhouette, the feel of the pen’s precious black resin, its handcrafted gold nib and the Montblanc emblem that crowns its cap continue to invite creativity.

How PSEi member stocks performed — June 3, 2022

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Friday, June 3, 2022.

GS Warriors out to craft response in Game 2 vs Celtics

IT TOOK 15 seasons and 141 playoff games before Al Horford reached the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals and he surprisingly played the role of hero in his first expedition.

Now, the 35-year-old Horford aims to help the Boston Celtics take a 2-0 series lead when they battle the Golden State (GS) Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.

Boston impressively rallied for a 120-108 victory in Thursday’s Game 1 and Horford led the way with 26 points on nine-of-12 shooting. In the 1,092nd overall game of his career, Horford made a career best six 3-pointers (in eight attempts).

“Just grateful for this opportunity,” Horford said. “It’s just going out there and playing basketball at the end of the day. That’s just what it is… Just excited to be able to share this stage with these group of guys.”

The feeling is mutual after Horford helped Boston recover from a 15-point late third-quarter deficit to hand the Warriors a painful home loss.

“We were ecstatic for him,” Boston guard Marcus Smart said. “He puts in the work. Nobody deserves to be here more than him. The way that he carries himself professionally, the professionalism he comes to this game with every day, we knew it was only a matter of time for him to have a big game, and continue to have a big game.”

Horford’s final-quarter scoring splurge (11 points on 4-of-4 shooting) and the Celtics’ fourth-period explosion leave Golden State in a dire position on Sunday night.

The Warriors thought they were cruising to a victory until Boston’s uprising. The Celtics outscored Golden State 40-16 in the period and buried nine of 12 3-point attempts in that time.

“Obviously, everybody is down,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “You want to go out and win the first one. We had every opportunity, 12-point lead going into the fourth. Guys are bummed, as you would expect. But it’s a seven-game series for a reason.”

Golden State star Stephen Curry recorded 34 points and seven 3-pointers but only had four points in the final quarter and missed his lone attempt from behind the arc.

He knows his team let a big opportunity get away.

“It’s not ideal,” Curry said. “But I believe in who we are and how we deal with adversity, how we responded all year, how we’ve responded in the playoffs after a loss. So learn a lot from that fourth quarter.

“We know they are a good team. So are we. We have to respond on Sunday.”

Boston is 8-2 away from home, including three wins at Miami in the Eastern Conference finals and a Game 6 victory at defending-champion Milwaukee that kept the Celtics alive in the conference semifinals.

Golden State certainly doesn’t envision falling behind 2-0 in the series. But the collapse in Game 1 ramps up the importance of Sunday’s game.

“It’s a different feeling,” Kerr said. “Obviously, you go into Game 2 with more of a sense of desperation.”

Not to be taken lightly is that this is the Warriors’ sixth NBA Finals in eight years. Guys like Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green aren’t surrendering after one setback.

“It’s just nothing to panic about,” Green said. “It’s the first team to win four games, not the first to win one.” — Reuters

Szoboszlai penalty earns Hungary first win over England in 60 years

BUDAPEST — A second-half penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai earned Hungary a shock 1-0 win over England in the Nations League on Saturday — their first victory against Gareth Southgate’s side in 60 years.

Looking to get their preparations for the Qatar World Cup, which begins later this year, up and running, England were surprisingly second best from the off in Budapest, and were fortunate to go into the break all square.

The hosts kept coming and made their pressure count as Szoboszlai converted from the penalty spot in the 66th minute after Zsolt Nagy was fouled by Chelsea defender Reece James — a decision which incensed the England players.

England pressed as they looked for a leveler, but they could not create that killer chance as their Nations League campaign got off to a disappointing start.

The tests keep coming with Germany England’s next League A, Group Three opponents on Tuesday, while Hungary will look to make it five wins in six when they face European champion Italy.

“We’ve got a massive game coming up on Tuesday,” England defender Conor Coady told Channel 4. “We need to look at this performance and learn from it very quickly.

“I thought we started off quite well. We need to tidy up and bounce back. We need to look at how we performed and how we move forward because these are big games for us.”

Hungary were forced to host England “behind closed doors” after being disciplined by both FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for repeated racist behaviour from their fans, but the Hungarian FA said last month that children could attend the match at the Puskas Arena.

Under Article 73 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations, children up to the age of 14 from schools and/or football academies can be invited to a ‘behind closed doors’ match free of charge, provided they are accompanied by an adult, meaning the stadium could be half full, mostly with children.

Some of those in attendance chose to boo the England players as they took the knee in protest against racial injustice before kickoff.

The most unfancied team in Nations League League A, Group Three, Hungary almost gave their youthful support something to shout about early on as Coady was forced to clear off the line after Szoboszlai had bundled the ball towards goal.

England, who handed debuts to West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen and Leicester City defender James Justin, failed to make any inroads in the first half, as Adam Szalai almost scored a sensational opener from the halfway line.

The visitors improved after the break, with substitute Bukayo Saka seeing an effort well saved, before Hungary did take a deserved lead, but the decision from the Portuguese referee was one that did not sit well with England.

James seemed to lead with his arm, which did catch Nagy, who went down very easily. Szoboszlai’s finish from the spot was emphatic.

England committed more forward after falling behind, with Coady glancing a header agonizingly wide from a free kick.

Otherwise, the hosts were comfortable, seeing out their victory, a first in 15 attempts since a win at the 1962 World Cup in Chile, with ease. — Reuters

Germany draws with Italy to stretch unbeaten run under Flick

BOLOGNA, Italy — Joshua Kimmich’s well-taken equalizer earned Germany a 1-1 draw with Italy in their Nations League opener on Saturday, ensuring his side remain unbeaten under coach Hansi Flick.

Looking to get over their disappointment at failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second successive tournament, Italy named an experimental side for their League A, Group Three match in Bologna, and gave Flick’s team a real test.

AS Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini edged the hosts in front 20 minutes from fulltime as Italy looked primed to secure only their second win in their last six games, but Kimmich pounced three minutes later to earn his side a point.

The draw means Germany have won eight and drawn two of their games since Flick took over from Joachim Loew after last summer’s European Championships, with England up next in the Nations League on Tuesday, with Italy taking on Hungary.

“It is a pity we conceded the equalizer straight after, we were naive, because it was not an easy game, especially at the start,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI Sport.

“It was the first time these players played together, they did a great job, they suffered when they had to, attacked when they had to. The lads did really well, they played on a par with what is a great national team at this moment.”

Mancini mixed things up after the Azzurri’s 3-0 defeat to Argentina in the “Finalissima” on Wednesday, with only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma keeping his place in the starting team.

But the new-look Italy impressed, with Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca going closest to a first-half opener as his well-hit strike from 25 meters clipped the post.

The visitors did waste a glorious opportunity of their own in the opening period, with Serge Gnabry firing over from a good position.

Mancini continued to blood young players after the break, with one debutant substitute —18-year-old Wilfried Gnonto — setting up Pellegrini to give Italy the lead.

Sloppy defending then cost Italy dear as they failed to clear the loose ball in the penalty area and Kimmich leveled things up.

The hosts pressed for a late winner but settled for a point as Flick became the third coach in the history of the German national team to stay undefeated in his first 10 matches after Sepp Herberger and Josef Derwall.

“Whether the point was deserved or not, I don’t know, but it was too little,” Kimmich told RTL. “We wanted to win.

“We know that Italy are in transition at the moment and didn’t necessarily have their best team on the pitch, so we wanted to win.

“We didn’t always manage to play our game, we weren’t as intense as we wanted to be, perhaps that was down to the humidity and heat. I know I had a chance to make it 2-1 as well, maybe I should have scored that.” — Reuters

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