Omens?

The blog noted that Spain last won the Euro Championship in 1964, two years prior to 1966 and England’s greatest success. News has arrived that North Korea have qualified for the 2010 World Cup, the first time since 1966!

England 6 Andorra 0

Green, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, A.Cole, Gerrard, Beckham, Lampard, Walcott, Rooney, Crouch.

That England would not win this fixture was unthinkable. Andorra are not a good team and rely on defending en masse to limit the opposition. The breakthrough was early, Rooney heading in after 3 minutes. The flood gates however did not open. Instead a steady stream of attacks, though sometimes not fluent fast paced incisive football set the tone of the game. Lampard added a second and Rooney a third in the last third of the first half.

The second half saw Ashley Young come on for Gerrard on the left and the dedicated left sided player did seem to give more width to the team, though perhaps and only perhaps less quality. Defoe replaced Rooney. Later in the second half Wayne Bridge replaced Ashley Cole. At last in the last twenty minutes of the second half, Defoe scored twice and Crouch toed one in after a defensive mix up to score a welcome goal.

You could count the number of times Robert Green touched the ball on one hand, exemplifying Andorra’s lack of attacking spirit. There is not too much to take out of this game and infact there probably never was save for 3 points. Glen Johnson played very well and is improving by the game. Indeed most goals involved Johnson in some way. Andorra used the game to say goodbye to two players, the veteran goalkeeper and the veteran centre back.

What a difference a year makes! 3 points for automatic qualification needed. Last year we were in the doldrums as Euro 2008 got under way. This year we are looking a potent team. Next year to this day, the World Cup will begin. A lot can change but Capello has done a great job and we can look forward optimistically.

The race for second place in the group is tight with Croatia, Belarus and Ukraine all in contention. With these three teams as our final 3 games fixtures, England will play a big part in determining who is the runner up. Also these games will be very competitive as the opposition will be determined. The idea of beating Croatia at Wembley in our next game is a sweet thought, and one that goes some way in alleviating the painful memories of the Euro qualifier of November 2007. Of these three teams it has to be said that Belarus were probably the most impressive playing England.

Nothing short of a complete disaster will stop England qualifying. Second place in the group is secure if a disaster does occur, but the momentum and impetus is all with England and we have to look for a 100% qualifying success. OK, one step at a time, but the next step could be very significant.

Neville and Beckham to start

Beckham and Gary Neville are likely to start tonight, Beckham in place of the suspended Barry, and Neville to safeguard Glen Johnson who picked up a yellow card last Saturday.
Beckham is pencilled in to play in central midfield, in order to keep Gerrard on the left. That Capello does not consider their age to be a barrier, can only give hope to Michael Owen.

4 to Go

Tomorrow sees England play Andorra in game 7 of the qualifying group. That England will not win is nigh on impossible. So we will be on 21 points with three games to go. With the draw between Croatia and Ukraine at the weekend , the gap is seven points. With Croatia not playing tomorrow and Ukraine at home to Kazakhstan, the group will look very much in favour of England. 3 points will be needed in game 8 (at home to Croatia) to ensure qualification. Whilst this blog advocates one step at a time, it is hard not to be confident of success.

With the remaining 3 out for 4 games at the new Wembley, the time has come for the new stadium to become a happier home for the national team.

Kazakhstan 0 England 4

Green, Johnson, Terry, Upson, A. Cole, Walcott, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney , Heskey.

Game 6 of the 10 match qualifying group and away to Kazakhstan.
Capello starting with Robert Green in goal, Gerrard on the left and Upson in for the injured Ferdinand.

The game started at a fast pace as in the opening seconds Glen Johnson slipped allowing the Kazakhstan winger to run with the ball, put in a cross from the England right and only a scramble prevented a clear goal scoring chance to Kazakhstan.

Midway through the first half, the Kazaks had the ball in the net from a floated in free kick, but the player meeting the ball and heading in was deemed correctly offside. That was really the only chances that Kazakhstan had.
England had a pattern, but they seemed tired, though picked the pace up during the game,

England’s first score was simplicity itself. A corner from the left and Barry, just heading the ball back across the goal but into the net.
As half time approached, Heskey got a rare goal, a shot deflecting off a Kazak defender, looped unfortunately for the goalie who managed only to claw the ball back into the path of Heskey who adeptly finished.
Second half was mostly England. Wright Philips started the second half in place of Walcott.

The third goal was the best. A strong run and cross from Johnson, who this season has been in real form for club and country, came to Rooney who kneed it towards goal. The goalie made a good save, but Rooney with a twist over shoulder rather than overhead spectacularly put the ball into the back of the net. With Defoe on for Heskey and Beckham arriving for his cameo role, this time 20 minutes, England added a fourth from the penalty spot after an infringement in the area.
Lampard duly putting the ball away. Still a 100% record and with Andorra on Wednesday the finals are a step closer.

Interesting

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article6441029.ece

Is Robert Green going to nail the goalkeeping position? Our goalies were also the envy of the world too.