World Cup qual. - Cole brace fires England to win

Eurosport - Sun, 07 Sep 17:58:00 2008

England overcame a poor first half performance to beat Andorra 2-0 in their opening World Cup qualifying Group 6 match, Joe Cole netting a quick-fire brace in Barcelona.

FOOTBALL World Cup qualifying Andorra-England Wayne Rooney Joe Cole - 0

Cole was introduced as a half-time substitute and needed just four minutes to spare Fabio Capello's blushes after England had laboured against the part-time opposition during the opening period at Montjuic.

The Chelsea midfielder's second came soon after and with it came all three points as Capello got his qualifying campaign for the 2010 tournament in South Africa off to a winning, if not spectacular, start.

With one eye of Wednesday's match in Croatia, which will provide a far sterner test for Capello's side, the England boss opted to field a slightly weakened side, Glen Johnson replacing Wes Brown at right-back and Stuart Downing being preferred to Cole on the left.

Jermain Defoe lead the line with Wayne Rooney tucked in behind the Portsmouth striker in a bid to counter Andorra's expected defensive tactics. The hosts did not disappoint, and David Rodrigo's side set out their stall right from the kick-off, putting at least nine men behind the ball at all times.

Nevertheless, England started brightly with Theo Walcott, handed his first international start in preference to David Beckham, in particular causing problems for the Andorran defence.

The Arsenal midfielder used his pace to good effect early on, pulling back for Frank Lampard to let off an ultimately scuffed strike at goal with just 30 seconds on the clock.

The early signs were good, Walcott himself going close moments later as he burst past Oscar Sonejee only to lift his shot over the bar when perhaps a square ball would have been a better course of action.

And when Johnson crashed a first time shot goalwards which was deflected behind for a corner, the upbeat action on the pitch was reflected in the mood amongst the crowd.

But after Rooney blazed over the bar and Lampard fired just wide of the upright with barely 21 minutes on the clock, the atmosphere noticeably began to change.

England lost their initial vibrancy and with it went their accuracy of passing and ability to fashion clear cut chances. Downing pumped a number of aimless crosses into the Andorran penalty box, John Terry was guilty of several misplaced passes and Rooney and Defoe failed to create anything up front.

As the whistles increased in number and volume, Joleon Lescott's two miscued headers from successive Lampard corners did little to ease the pressure on his team-mates or their coach.

Unsurprisingly, just as they had on their last visit to Montjuic, the team departed to the dressing rooms at half-time goalless and to a torrent of boos and jeers from their own fans. Once there, the ambiance cannot have been too much more pleasant but Capello responded by making two changes at the break.

On came Emile Heskey for Defoe and Cole for Downing, the latter proving an inspired switch - within 10 minutes England were two goals to the good, Cole netting both.

The first, on 49 minutes, was all about power as he lashed home a close range volley from Lescott's cushioned lay-off, while the second boasted more finesse, the Chelsea midfielder running onto Rooney's clever through pass to finish neatly under the body of Andorra keeper Koldo Alvarez.

With a two-goal cushion, not to mention the crowd, behind them England visibly relaxed and began to play the ball around with far more confidence, although a third goal ultimately proved beyond them.

Sandwiched in between Cole's strikes, Terry went close to adding another with a low drive into the side netting and on 62 minutes Johnson did have the ball in the back of the net, only to see it chalked off with Cole in an off-side position.

Cole himself could then have registered a hat-trick in stoppage time, but his timing was slightly out and his shot was easily saved by Alvarez.

No matter, three points were already secured and with three goals in his last two games, Cole must surely now be in line to make his first start in five when England travel to Zagreb on Wednesday.

CROATIA 3-0 KAZAKHSTAN

Croatia opened their campaign with a solid 3-0 win at home to Kazakhstan.

Croatia dominated from the start and took the lead with a header from skipper Niko Kovac in the 13th minute.

Attacking midfielder Luka Modric fired in the second goal from the edge of the box in the 35th minute after a pass from forward Ivan Klasnic.

Substitute striker Mladen Petric sealed the victory 11 minutes from time after a fine passing sequence involving all three Croatian forwards.

UKRAINE 1-0 BELARUS

In the other Group 6 game, Ukraine scraped a 1-0 victory over neighbours Belarus with an injury-time penalty from Andriy Shevchenko.

The victory, after Ukraine's 1-0 friendly win against Poland last month, raised hopes coach Olexiy Mikhaylichenko would bring results to a team boasting quality players but who have enjoyed little international success.

Mikhaylichenko took over from Oleg Blokhin last January after Ukraine failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

The match was a dull affair, however, that often looked like a training session rather than a competitive international. It came alive only in the dying minutes when Milan's former Chelsea striker Shevchenko, who had been on the pitch 15 minutes, put away the perfectly-executed penalty.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport / Reuters

Comment 276 - 295 of 295

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. shut up u soft @#$%

    From BallsDeep, on Mon 8 Sep 5:37PM

  2. I am not sure why people keep saying drop Lampard and give Gerrard the fredom to play in the position of his choice i.e. centre. But if one look to England team longterm problems, the most obious problem is lack of goals. Now if one leave his/her personal likeness/dislikeness for a moment aside, he/she will realise that both for club and country, Lampard is ahead of Gerrad. Would like to be corrected if I am wrong. So, where is the logic for dropping Lampard until England find a new hero to replace him.

    From MA, on Sun 7 Sep 7:33PM

  3. People keep saying how good capello actually is, but he plays the same players as McClaren? Exactly! Drop lampard and wes brown and play young etc. If we are going to win anythign, we need to change the engalnd players NOW

    Joyzi

    From nathanjoyes@..., on Sun 7 Sep 6:00PM

  4. I for one hope they keep showing england matches on pay per view as it gives me a reason not to watch them. Great move guys ask everyone to support england then sell out to pay per view tv, @#$%....

    johnboy

    From john, on Sun 7 Sep 3:44PM

  5. 3 points is 3 points but we need to get better wednesday or croatia will hammer us

    From Danny P, on Sun 7 Sep 3:37PM

  6. 3 points is 3 points but we need to get better wednesday or croatia will hammer us

    From Danny P, on Sun 7 Sep 3:37PM

  7. ujb8in

    From jtpmetalcraft, on Sun 7 Sep 2:52PM

  8. My friend recommended me a very interesting place *** Seeking 40PLUS COM *** It's where wealthy 40+ singles looking for the same or over aged people to enjoy their wealthy lifestyle with.

    From , on Sun 7 Sep 2:32PM

  9. hey all good win but still needs improvement.downing waste of left wing space!

    From shaif21@..., on Sun 7 Sep 2:16PM

  10. I did'nt watch the England game as it was on pay per view. However, reading the news report on how our team did, I'm glad that I did'nt. Everybody keeps saying that the manager is rubbish, but he is not on the pitch playing, it is 11 overpaid, over-hyped egotistical prima-donnas who appear to be playing a club game against each other,as well as playing international football. The fact that they struggled to win against a part-time team does not bode will for their game againist Croatia. They do not convince as a team in their present form, and this is not helped by certain club managers hindering the selection process by tactically announcing that a player is injured or sick in the run up to an international game. This is compounded by FA, who make token noises regarding 'England Team duty' instead of invoking the rules and reading the riot act to these managers. But, as always 'money' is at the root of all of this, people seem to forget that the 1966 England Team, did not get anywhere near the sort of money that today's players command. Yet that was the year we won the World Cup. They also convinced as a team. The current team do have talent, but will never win anything, when all they crave it the prestige of an England Cap.

    From JULIETTE K, on Sun 7 Sep 1:44PM

  11. I did'nt watch the England game as it was on pay per view. However, reading the news report on how our team did, I'm glad that I did'nt. Everybody keeps saying that the manager is rubbish, but he is not on the pitch playing, it is 11 overpaid, over-hyped egotistical prima-donnas who appear to be playing a club game against each other,as well as playing international football. The fact that they struggled to win against a part-time team does not bode will for their game againist Croatia. They do not convince as a team in their present form, and this is not helped by certain club managers hindering the selection process by tactically announcing that a player is injured or sick in the run up to an international game. This is compounded by FA, who make token noises regarding 'England Team duty' instead of invoking the rules and reading the riot act to these managers. But, as always 'money' is at the root of all of this, people seem to forget that the 1966 England Team, did not get anywhere near the sort of money that today's players command. Yet that was the year we won the World Cup. They also convinced as a team. The current team do have talent, but will never win anything, when all they crave it the prestige of an England Cap.

    From JULIETTE K, on Sun 7 Sep 1:41PM

  12. Why is our National Game not being shown on BBC or ITV,I think it's absolutely DISGUSTING that we would have to pay for the priviliege of seeing our Lads,don't matter how good or bad they played,it's going the way as the rest of the world could'nt give a @#$% as longing their making money the FA I mean.
    Does the FA mean something else nowdays.???

    From ENGLISH, on Sun 7 Sep 12:29PM

  13. Rooney has jus got to go from this England team - why is Michael Owen not chosen - he can practically gurantee the fans goals! And England shud be embarassed by this win - Andorra are a part time team and the amount of world class players that England hav - they shud hav beaten them hands down. Any other team would!!! Im a northern ireland fan but I do support England and its sooo frustrating to see them play so bad!!! David Healy can score way more goals than Rooney - he is what u call a striker - Rooney shud defo be dropped from this team, and the sooner ppl realise this the better!!!!!!!

    From Clare, on Sun 7 Sep 12:24PM

  14. what a poor performance by england,multi million pound word player against the fisher man whooooooo,,,,very sad play that was,,money is everything

    From velicengiz@..., on Sun 7 Sep 12:18PM

  15. it is dissapointing to think that the giant tumour that is setanta has taken our international football it does prove that the fa only care about money why dont they just get rid of the egos and actualy do what the fans want them to do?

    From retro.mini.chris@..., on Sun 7 Sep 11:51AM

  16. I agree Rooney needs to go put owen in his place he can score goals....

    From dariusbirjandi, on Sun 7 Sep 11:50AM

  17. Downing & Defoe.
    Says it all really!
    Get rid of these over-hyped prima donnas and get players in from the lower leagues; PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PLAY FOR THEIR COUNTRY. If they spent as much time honing their football skills as they do on their appearances, then they would be world beaters. They have brought shame on England YET AGAIN. With the exception of J. Cole, get rid now!!!

    From cameron w, on Sun 7 Sep 11:47AM

  18. Football is only about money, the FA doesn't give a dam about the fans. I could not watch the match last night because it was not on BBC or ITV. I am having trouble paying my bills at the moment so there no way I am paying for another channel. The FA sells the matches to these chennels and what does the fans get, nothing, the FA get more money to waste.

    From johnlucky@..., on Sun 7 Sep 11:31AM

  19. engand need to drop rooney,im a man u fan and even i now that his football has went dramaticy down hill.and dont get me startd on d beckham!

    From colin s, on Sun 7 Sep 11:24AM

  20. it would be interesting to hear what comments the england players have on the football being taken off terrestial tv perhaps there might be more respect for them then

    From skintus, on Sun 7 Sep 11:18AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account