New-look England caught cold by Chile

England's sole consolation of a chastening night was the relief that they were not engaged in World Cup play-off action. Roy Hodgson's side will need to raise their game, and particularly their defending and tempo, if they are to survive the group stage in Brazil next summer. They were poor. Of the debut-makers, Jay Rodriguez struggled, Fraser Forster had no chance with Alexis Sanchez's goal but saved well from Jean Beausejour while Adam Lallana showed some decent touches.

Elsewhere Leighton Baines was caught out by Sanchez's clever movement but few of England's defenders emerged with credit. There were lessons all over the pitch. England also lacked pace until Andros Townsend came on. There was a lack of discipline from Gary Cahill, who could easily have been dismissed in the second half. Another reminder of the quality lurking in Brazil came with news of Germany's substitutions on the hour against Italy: Mario Gotze and Andre Schurrle being replaced by Marco Reus and Mesut Ozil. England can only dream of such depth. Germany visit Wembley on Tuesday when England will beware another lesson. England had been given an early reminder of the perils that await in Brazil.

Chile swiftly showed the exuberant counter-attacking that helped them qualify for the World Cup. Gary Cahill saw off one attack, but Chile re-circulated the ball quickly. Jean Beausejour, of Wigan, guided the excellent Eugenio Mena down the left and the cross from the Santos full-back caused mayhem in England's defence. Sanchez stole in ahead of a sluggish Leighton Baines to steer his header past Fraser Forster.

The Celtic keeper, whose shot-stopping against Barcelona attackers in the Champions League helped bring his England recognition, could do little to keep out the header from Sanchez. Culpability lay elsewhere. Given the intensifying debate over whether Ashley Cole should be England's first-choice left-back, Baines will not enjoy the video analysis of this moment. Cole's experience and positional sense should not be discarded lightly. England fans sighed in frustration. They had actually started well, Phil Jones' powerful header from Lallana's free-kick being pushed over by Claudio Bravo, but Sanchez exposed that alarming uncertainty in Hodgson's defence. England's manager soon emerged from the dug-out, gesticulating at the players, reflecting his unease.

"Get out,'' Hodgson kept shouting at his defence, urging them to push forward rather than settle into their usual default position under pressure of nervously sitting back. Chile's movement was too cerebral for England. Hodgson's side were too laboured, too slow. It looked a step too far for Jay Rodriguez, in particular. Wayne Rooney wore No?10 but was up top and too often too lonely. He worked with his usual endeavour, trying to close down Chilean defenders, but the first half was a reminder of how he operates best when behind a centre-forward, as a true No10 (as happened when Jermain Defoe came on in the second half).

Two Southampton players looked to support Rooney, Lallana on the right and Rodriguez on the left. Frank Lampard, who was presented with his golden cap beforehand, was the deepest of three midfielders, with Jack Wilshere and James Milner alternating the chance to attack. England chased the equaliser with occasional promise. Bravo saved a Lallana shot and then clutched a Milner cross. England remained vulnerable to the counter. Jones lost the ball, Glen Johnson was caught upfield and Chile broke like sprinters. Sanchez found Beausejour and Forster saved well.

Such was Sanchez's occasionally graceful influence on proceedings that it briefly revived memories of the glorious contribution of his compatriot, Marcelo Salas, here before another World Cup, France 98. Chile looked a really unified, well-drilled team, totally understanding Jorge Sampaoli's tactics. They looked ready for the World Cup. England did not, even taking into account the experimentation.

Chile showed a confidence in possession all over the pitch, the contrast most acute in the defensive areas where Gary Medel would pass his way calmly out of trouble. Barring some notable exceptions, such as when Jones walked the ball out from the back, England tended to clear hurriedly. They kept trying to build moves, although also handicapped by a lack of real pace in the front six. Baines and Milner did combine to release Wilshere, who was brought down by Beausejour, a bit of a feud developing between the pair.

Lampard lined up the free-kick from 30 yards and Bravo pushed it over. England attacked again, quickly through the middle through Rooney and Milner, whose shot deflected over off Medel. Wilshere gave some hope. He withstood a few robust challenges and tried to catch Bravo out with a snap-shot. The Arsenal midfielder then nutmegged Marcelo Diaz, venturing across the Chile area before dispossessed by Mauricio Isla's well-timed tackle. Yet the concerns continued to ripple through England's white shirts along the back-line like laundry in a stiff breeze.

Sanchez nicked the ball off Baines. The unmarked Medel headed over. Sanchez's shot was then blocked by Jones. One of the few positives for England in the first half was Lallana's lively contribution. He almost scored towards the end of the half, following a superb piece of control and determination under pressure. Wilshere passed to Rooney, who angled a ball to Lallana. He caught the ball well enough but it deflected wide. The record books showed that England had not scored against Chile since 1953 when Tommy Taylor and Nat Lofthouse found the mark.

Three years earlier, at the World Cup, Stan Mortensen and Wilf Mannion scored so there was plenty of pedigree in England's scorers against Chile. Chile looked the likelier to score as the second half opened up. From a Mena cross, Forster hardly impressed with his panicky punch out and needed assistance from Jones to clear the danger. England's other centre-back, Cahill, then lost his composure and clattered Felipe Gutierrez, getting a yellow card which surely would have been red at the World Cup. This was a night of lessons for England.

Rodriguez was removed after 56 minutes. Andros Townsend arrived on the right, Lallana switching to the left, and finally England had pace. Lallana then jarred his knee, briefly continued before being replaced by Ross Barkley, who cut in from the left, dribbling into the box, and linked up well with Rooney. Chile deservedly had the final word, Sanchez dinking in his second.