Part 1 - EURO 2012 Qualification: England’s player by player performance review
England exorcized their World Cup demons through a convincing four goals to nil win over the Bulgarian national team in their first qualification match for the European Championships of 2012. England and Bulgaria are both in Group G which includes other teams like Switzerland, Montenegro and Wales.
In winning their first match, England have propelled themselves to the top of their qualification group. However a tougher test awaits the three lions in their next qualification match which is in Switzerland against the home team.
At the goal for the English national team was their youngster Joe Hart. Hart did magnificently well, not only did the young Manchester city goalkeeper keep a clean sheet but he also commanded respect from his defence and the oppositions attack. England’s goalkeeping troubles have been well documented but Hart has come as England’s saviour and after his confident display against Bulgaria, he has the potential to be England’s number one choice in between the posts for the next fifteen years.
The most remarkable thing about Hart is his age. Joe is only 23; the only other recent example of a goal keeper maturing at such a young age is Iker Casillas of Real Madrid and the Spanish national team and we all know how successful he has been.
Glen Johnson resumed his World Cup position i.e. right back for the English national team against Bulgaria and was one of the most below par English players on the field. Johnson plays in defence and as a defender his first priority should be to be competent at defending and then comes his role as an attacking wing back in offense. However such is the ability of Liverpool’s right back that he is quite hopeless when it comes to defence.
His positional sense coupled with the ability to make one big mistake per match makes him a liability at the back rather than an asset. But his skills on the ball and link up play with Theo Walcott all throughout the match was brilliant and Glen looked quite dangerous when he got into Bulgaria’s side of the field. Pity for England that their first choice right back is such an un-proportional player as far as balancing the two sides of his game is concerned.
In John Terry and Rio Ferdinand’s absence, Michael Dawson was chosen by Fabio Capello to play as his team’s right sided centre back. In all honestly, Dawson was one of the best defenders in the English Premier League in the 2009-2010 season.
Michael, who plays for Tottenham in the English league also went to the World Cup with the English national team but didn’t even start a single game in spite of the fact that his club team mate Ledley King got injured before the tournament even kicked off leaving a void in Capello’s defensive options.
Dawson was efficient in the early minutes of the match but then showed his inexperienced as he failed to connect with the ball from a header and as a result Bulgaria almost scored from their first real shot on goal. After that, Michael sustained an unfortunate “freak” injury which meant that he was substituted in the 55th minute of the match for Gary Cahill.
Phil Jagielka played as England’s other centre back and was comfortable throughout the night bar one or two anxious moments on the field. He was powerful in the air versus the Bulgarian strikers and did well in tandem with Joe Hart to deny Bulgaria even a single goal throughout the match.
Ashley Cole perhaps England’s best player along with Gerrard from the English national team’s World Cup performances, played at his regular left back spot in England’s qualification opener. Cole was solid for England throughout the night.
He was involved in most of England’s build up play as Milner’s tendency to drift inwards on his right foot allowed Cole a lot of space down the left side of the Bulgarian defence. Ashley was seldom tested in defence and maybe that’s why the 29 year old kept up his runs behind the Bulgarian back four.
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