UEFA EURO 2012 Qualifiers: Jermain Defoe hat-trick helps England beat Bulgaria 4-0
England reclaimed some of their pride after a brilliant Jermain Defoe hat-trick led the Three Lions to a 4-0 romp over lowly Bulgaria. After a horrendous World Cup 2010 in South Africa, England manager Fabio Capello was under pressure to deliver the goods and that too in a convincing fashion. He couldn’t have asked for a more appropriate response from a team that had earlier looked completely out of sorts on the African continent.
Capello stuck to the much reviled and criticized 4-4-2 formation which reaped great dividends as England were unrecognizable as the team which had lost 4-1 to Germany in the round of sixteen during the world cup. Not only did the score line read very well for England, the performance was something to admire as well with many players putting in great efforts.
The scoring started as early as the 4th minute when Defoe stabbed in his first goal to calm any nerves that might have existed before the match. There had been talk of pressure and also Capello’s job security if he failed to deliver anything less than a win but that was all put to rest with the clinical finish of the Tottenham Hotspur striker.
England continued to play some good football with Theo Walcott starting down the right and James Milner of Manchester City putting in a shift at left back. Both wingers looked dangerous especially in the first half. Walcott was constantly penetrative while Milner allowed left back Ashley Cole to bomb forward at every moment.
Wayne Rooney also returned to form and even though, he was not on the score sheet, he had a direct hand in almost all of the goals. He looked a little rusty but despite that, his class showed as his clever passes and technique on the ball kept releasing Defoe and the wingers.
The middle of England’s midfield brought some subdued performances from Captain Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry but they were never really required to get out of second gear as their efforts were enough to keep the Bulgarians at bay. With such an assured performance, Frank Lampard and John Terry’s absences were not even noticed.
The second goal arrived in the 61st minute as Defoe added his second to underline England’s superiority over their visitors. This second goal also lay to rest the start that England had in the World Cup when they had gone in front against the United States early but then conceded to start off with only a draw. Yet, there wasn’t going to be a repeat performance at Wembley as the home support enjoyed England’s football and the goals that came as a result of their ascendancy in the match.
The only sour point for England on the night was the injury caused to Michael Dawson, which looks like it will keep him out for a while. The Spurs centre-back had looked good in his time on the pitch and would have been devastated by this injury set back which will not bode well for his progress at both the club and country level.
The third goal was scored by the rising star Adam Johnson, who came on as a substitute. Johnson showed good instincts and an eye for goal to strengthen his claim for a starting place in the first team. Defoe was determined, however, to have the final word as he finally scored his third in the 86th minute to claim his first hat-trick in an England shirt.
England’s victory sent fans home ecstatic and this will only set the Three Lions up well for the remainder to the Euro qualifiers. Next up, England will have face up against Switzerland which was the only team to have defeated the Spanish in the World Cup finals. England’s victory on the night may have been impressive and convincing yet there are much sterner tests to be negotiated before Capello can breathe a sigh of relief regarding his job as manager of England.
Tags: