Switzerland 1 England 3: match reportRead a full match report of the European Championship qualifier between Switzerland and England at St Jakob Park, Basle, on Tuesday Sept 7 2010.
By
Henry WinterPublished: 11:56PM BST 07 Sep 2010
Henry's Twitter 12 CommentsPrevious1 of 6 ImagesNext
Top dog: Wayne Rooney's early goal is the high point of a difficult couple of days Photo: PA
Showtime: allegations about his private life were rife in the run-up to the game Photo: ACTION IMAGES
Crocked: Theo Walcott's first-half injury is a worry for England... Photo: GETTY IMAGES
...but his replacement Adam Johnson hits the target for his second England in as many games Photo: ACTION IMAGES
Flying tonight: Switzerland's Stephan Lichtsteiner was sent off for this challenge on James Milner Photo: REUTERS
Bent like Beckham: Sunderland striker Darren Bent caps a fine evening, coming on in the second half to score his first England goal Photo: PA Dog-house one minute, top dog the next. Football’s wheel of fortune spins quickly.
Wayne Rooney still has serious domestic issues to address but at least he returns home with the admiration of
England’s players and supporters for a pedigree display of discipline and dynamism capped by a hugely significant goal. For Rooney, today’s newspapers will be worth reading leisurely rather than shredding instantly. Coming after only 10 minutes, his close-range strike immediately settled England, allowing them to conjure up what Fabio Capello described as the ''best first-half performance under my management’’. With Rooney dropping off to bolster midfield, preventing them being over-run as at the World Cup, and Steven Gerrard at his quarterbacking best in the centre, England brimmed with balance and counter-attacking potency. A brief second-half wobble confirmed that England remain a work in progress but this was a hugely encouraging evening for Capello, Gerrard and particularly Rooney. Related Articles
Nobody should portray this as a case of Rooney answering his critics. He has only one person to answer to - her indoors. This was simply a case of Rooney going back to what he does best, focusing on finding a fraction of space and beating a keeper. Rarely can a goal have brought a scorer such pleasure. Rarely can a scorer have celebrated so little. Rooney knew that the cameras were on him, that this was no time to wallow in self-glory. Sensible.
Whatever his immaturity as a man, here was thrilling proof of Rooney’s ability to compete with commendable maturity. He was measured in the challenge, accurate in his passing and shrewd in his movement, shuttling between the hole and attack. Aware that one slip would launch a thousand negative headlines, Rooney was a model professional against the Swiss. The former Evertonian will need more of such restraint on Saturday when stepping out in front of the caustic choirs of Gwladys Street.
Here was a night of respite for Rooney and delight for England. Two wins do not make a qualifying campaign but England have set out brightly on the road to Euro 2012 and now sit atop of Group G ahead of Montenegro on goal difference. Montenegro visit Wembley on Oct 12 and it will be interesting to see whether Capello restores Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Frank Lampard.
As well as Joleon Lescott and particularly Phil Jagielka performed by the Rhine, the Ferdinand-Terry central-defensive axis remains England’s strongest. Lampard could have to wait as Gerrard again dominated in his best position.
Gerrard in the middle? How long has it taken to get there? To think people dared considered him best on the left. What a waste.
As with Gerrard in the centre, here was also another advertisement for the gifts of Adam Johnson, frustratingly overlooked for South Africa but a real tormentor of Switzerland’s left flank when replacing poor Theo Walcott. The Arsenal flier took a knock on the ankle during the build-up to Rooney’s goal and will be out for a fortnight.
It was good to see Capello finally trusting in Johnson, who has been outstanding since joining Manchester City last January. Eastlands should also take great pride from the sight of England finishing the match with six City players. A Blue Moon lit the sky over the elegant border town of Basel.
It had been the sort of rainy, potentially tricky night when sliding tacklers could have started in Switzerland and ended in France. It had been an occasion when all eyes and cameras were inevitably trained on Rooney, who began tucked in behind Jermain Defoe, seemingly circumspect in the challenge as if wanting to stay low profile. Not for long.
Walcott began the move for Rooney’s goal, sending the overlapping Glen Johnson tearing down the right. Walcott darted into the box, heading for the near-post. Johnson’s cut-back was hard and fast, driven low into the box, missing out Walcott, who unfortunately was caught by his Swiss marker. As Walcott slumped to the soaked turf, the ball sped on to Rooney, who swept England ahead.
Adam Johnson ran on to replace Walcott, marking his arrival with a wonderful turn to deceive Reto Ziegler. Hitherto vaunted, Switzerland’s defence was a mess. Defoe narrowly failed to turn in a James Milner cross. Adam Johnson tried his luck from 35 yards out but his shot skimmed over.
Rooney then paraded his creative powers, clipping in a magnificent ball to Defoe, who spun away from two defenders and brought an exceptional save from Diego Benaglio. Rooney resembled a golfer going through his clubs, soon chipping a wonderful ball to the far-post where only Stephane Grichting’s alertness denied Defoe.
England showed some frailty after the break, Joe Hart suffering a brief bout of the wobbles, dropping a free-kick and a couple of crosses. England still threatened, Glen Johnson forcing a fine save from Benaglio. They were particularly helped when Stephan Lichtsteiner was dismissed for two bookable offences, first for dissent and then a foul on Milner.
Even Switzerland’s famed neutrality had limits and the fans barracked Capello’s compatriot, Nicola Rizzoli, particularly when the Italian referee failed to censure Gerrard for a late tackle. The hosts’ anger intensified when England’s captain, ignoring the stricken Defoe lying prostrate on the floor, released Adam Johnson, who rounded Benaglio and angled a shot into the net.
Switzerland, depleted in numbers but not spirit, responded. Xherdan Shaqiri escaped Ashley Cole and let fly left-footed from 25 yards, the ball arrowing past Hart. Capello then re-jigged England in 4-2-3-1 formation with Darren Bent the spearhead and the Sunderland attacker swiftly struck, confidently putting away a good pass from Milner on a very good night for England.
