Euro 2012: Switzerland v England full time report
Switzerland 1 England 3
Wayne Rooney was amongst the goalscorers as England made it two wins out of two in Euro 2012 qualifying with an impressive win over a 10 man Switzerland.
The under-fire Rooney slotted home Glen Johnson’s early cross to put the visitors ahead, as England dominated large periods of the first half in Basel.
Home right back Stefan Lichtsteiner received his marching orders for two quickfire yellow cards midway through the second period, before Adam Johnson raced onto a Steven Gerrard pass to double England’s advantage.
Swiss substitute Xherdan Shaqiri halved the deficit with a fine goal, before Darren Bent wrapped up the victory with his first goal for his country late on.
The win will be a welcome one for England, coming as it did in the wake of the allegations about Rooney’s private life, but typically of the man, it didn’t take him long to get involved in the action.
Theo Walcott combined well with Glen Johnson down the right flank, and after the Liverpool full back had skipped past a challenge, his precise low centre ran past Walcott and Jermain Defoe, before being turned into the net by the lurking Rooney from close range.
There were muted celebrations from the forward – scoring his first England goal in a year – but joy was soon to turn to concern, as Walcott lay prone in the six yard box. The winger was stretchered off and replaced by Adam Johnson. It was later revealed that he had been taken to hospital for an X-ray on an injured ankle.
On the pitch, England were well on top, and Defoe should have done better when he failed to connect with a looping Gerrard pass, before the Spurs striker snatched at a low Adam Johnson cross after good wing play from the England substitute.
Just as the one way traffic heading toward the Switzerland goal looked like it could never be stopped, the home side showed some signs of life, and after Lichtsteiner was felled by Gareth Berry, Alexander Frei’s free kick was volleyed wide by David Degen.
Back at the other end, Defoe tested Diego Benaglio with a good turn and shot, before just failing to get on the end of Rooney’s looping cross.
The second half began in the same vein as the first, with England keeping possession and looking comfortable, and Benaglio had to be alert to keep out Glen Johnson’s low, left-footed effort from distance.
The only problems for England were coming from their uncharacteristically nervy goalkeeper, with Joe Hart flapping at several crosses and forcing Gerrard into a wild clearance after Frei had got around the back of the visiting defence. However, Fabio Capello’s men were soon to be given a helping hand.
James Milner was sent clear down the left hand side, and after over-hitting the ball, flew into a challenge with right back Lichtsteiner, who just caught the England midfielder before he touched the ball. Booked just minutes before for arguing with the assistant referee and taking out his frustrations on the corner flag, he received his second caution and was dismissed.
It wouldn’t be long before England took advantage, and Gerrard’s superb through ball sent Adam Johnson clear, and the England substitute – a scorer in the 4-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday night – rounded Benaglio and coolly slotted home.
However, if England thought it was all over they were to be mistaken, and Swiss sub Shaqiri – just 18-years-old – was soon picking the ball up on the right flank and arrowing a superb left foot shot from distance past Hart for his first goal for his country; a lifeline for the 10 men.
England were now under pressure, and as Capello replaced Rooney with Shaun Wright-Phillips – a move that ensured that the visitors now had six Manchester City players on the pitch – his team were trying to kill off the game against their spirited opponents.
They soon did, and after Ashley Cole fed Bent on the left hand side of the penalty area, the Sunderland forward drilled home his first goal for his country to settle any nerves in the closing stages.
The goal confirmed an impressive win, and with Rooney making the headlines for all the right reasons in tomorrow’s newspapers, England will be confident that they can progress from here.
http://www.senore.com/Euro-2012-Fabio-Capello-This-is-my-job,-the-journalists-can-criticise-me-a25941http://www.senore.com/Euro-2012-Last-gasp-McManus-saves-Scotlands-blushes-a25939
http://www.senore.com/Euro-2012-Portugal-slip-to-defeat-in-Norway-a25940
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