Euro 2012; England vs Bulgaria - first half report, Jermain Defoe scores
England produced a much better show under pressure at Wembley. The home side went in 1-0 against Bulgaria, courtesy a goal from Jermaine Defoe.
It took less than three minutes and post-World Cup England were up and running. Ashley Cole saw his effort from Wayne Rooney's brilliant pass saved but Jermain Defoe hooked home a splendid finish from the Chelsea full-back's subsequent pass to hand an effervescent England the lead.
England were absolutely buzzing at Wembley and Bulgaria were like a rabbit caught in the headlights. The hosts were full of verve, pressing the opposition at every opportunity, and Wayne Rooney was enjoying himself from a deeper position.
Steven Gerrard won the ball back well in the midfield and fed Theo Walcott, but the in-form winger could not quite get his cross right and the Bulgaria defence was able to clear.
The Wembley crowd, relatively sparse, was getting right behind this England performance, and few could blame them with the level of spark, fluency and incisiveness on show.
England had completely dominated proceedings but Bulgaria were so very nearly level when Glen Johnson directed a whipped cross at his own goal - Joe Hart had to get down smartly to keep it out on the goal line.
Minutes later there was a brilliant cross field pass from Gareth Barry that found Ashley Cole, who in turn played in James Milner, but the Manchester City midfielder's long-range effort was straight down Bulgaria keeper Nikolay Mihaylov's throat. England were still dominating proceedings with half an hour gone, but it was a touch more relaxed than the opening 15 minutes.
Jermain Defoe, who was going to go under the knife for a groin operation this week before putting it off, could not make the most of a decent ball over the top from Wayne Rooney, before Theo Walcott and Steven Gerrard linked up well in the box moments later only for the Bulgarian keeper to finally claim at the end of some good home pressing.
The latest Manchester City signing James Milner was soon on the move, the winger cut in from the left and attempted to drive into the far post right-footed from the angle, but it was deflected wide.
The first half ended 1-0 for England, and the signs look ominous for Bulgaria and if England play it right 2 to 3 more goals can be on the cards.
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