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Article from 13th
August 2009, for my school newspaper (sincere apologies re: the awful pun in
the headline... I was sixteen, alright?)
Jermain
Defoe came off the bench to score two second-half goals for England at the
Amsterdam Arena. Two defensive mistakes had gifted Holland two early goals, as
Fabio Capello’s team warmed up for the World Cup Qualification match against
Croatia next month, a match that would see England qualify for South Africa
2010.
Before
the match there was an emotional tribute to former England manager Sir Bobby
Robson, who tragically died last week after a long battle with cancer. The game
itself has caused some controversy, with many managers questioning the point of
an international friendly three days before the start of the Premier League
season. The players were still in pre-season mode, and it showed for most of
the match.
As
early as the seventh minute, Glen Johnson passed back to Rio Ferdinand but a
misunderstanding meant that ‘keeper Robert Green had to come out and clear,
only just beating Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt to the ball. Two minutes later,
the same thing happened with the same players. Ferdinand went to collect the
ball from a Green goal kick, and the Manchester United centre-back, instead of
turning on the ball and doing something useful, gave it to Johnson, immediately
putting the new Liverpool right-back under pressure. Johnson attempted a pass
to Green, but Kuyt stole in and, after rounding the ‘keeper, fired into the
goal. Not even 10 minutes into the game and England had made two mistakes, one
of them leading to a goal. Things needed to improve.
David
Beckham, receiving his 113th England cap, started the match and the
LA Galaxy midfielder had two early free kicks to test the Dutch defence. The
first one was wasted but the second needed Dutch ‘keeper Martin Stekelenburg to
get in front of the onrushing Frank Lampard. Beckham then had to work back well
to stop Kuyt from creating another chance for Holland, who are ranked third in
the world.
Wayne
Rooney and Emile Heskey started up front together: Capello seems to like the
little-and-large option for a strike-force. Heskey didn’t really worry
Holland’s defence, which boasted Ajax’s John Heitinga, Blackburn’s Andre
Ooijer, Mathijsen and Braafheid. For most of the first half, Rooney was left
without any support, and so very few England chances were created. However on
the twenty-five minute mark Gareth Barry, after some good build-up play from
England, got to the by-line and his backheel was blocked by fellow Manchester
City midfielder Nigel de Jong. Replays show that the young midfielder could
have blocked the ball with his arm. The referee didn’t see it though, and so
play continued.
Ashley
Young, making his first start for England with Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole out
through injury, made a claim for the permanent left-wing position. The Aston
Villa midfielder supplied quality crosses throughout the first half and, after
Lampard had wasted a free kick, Young picked the ball up and went on a run
around the edge of the area and fired straight at Stekelenburg. The winger
terrified Heitinga with his pace and showed the quality that he could bring to
England in South Africa.
England
didn’t really create any clear-cut chances and in defence they were continuing
to be sloppy. Ferdinand, again instead of doing something useful, gave the ball
to Barry who decided not to turn on the ball, but to try and, blindly, pass to
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole. Cole’s former teammate, Arjen Robben, had other
ideas though. The speedy winger nipped in front of Cole and went towards goal,
only to be stopped by Green. The ball fell to Robben’s Real Madrid teammate,
Rafael Van der Vaart, who made no mistake in finishing off. England were
struggling badly, with most of their problems coming from their own players.
Just before the half-time whistle, Robben attacked down the wing once again,
giving the ball to Kuyt, who blazed over the bar. England went into the break
2-0 down, leaving a big mountain to climb.
Changes
were made by both sides at half-time. Defoe came on for Heskey, Manchester
City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips came on for Beckham and Manchester United’s
Michael Carrick replaced Barry in the centre of midfield. For Holland, Real
Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder and Liverpool midfielder Ryan Babel replaced
Van der Vaart and Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, who had a relatively quiet match.
It was England who started the brightest, with Rooney and Wright-Phillips
nearly combining to create a chance. After 50 minutes, though, England had got
a goal back. A great chip from Lampard put Defoe through one-one-one with the
‘keeper. Defoe finished sublimely with his shot clipping the post on its way
in. A great start from the former West Ham and Portsmouth striker, and his
night was about to get even better. With Robben being replaced by Afellay,
England began to create more chances down the wings. Wright-Phillips was
menacing down the right-wing, and his low cross was blocked on the line by
Ooijer.
The
introduction of West Ham United’s Carlton Cole had a big impact for England.
The big striker came on for Rooney on the hour mark and unlike Heskey, Cole was
winning every ball, and after winning it, he would run on to help the attack.
Cole’s speed was evident, and the two Dutch centre-backs were struggling with
the former Chelsea striker. England, though, were beginning to get sloppy
again, with both Sneijder and Babel going close.
Another
England debutant came on in the 67th minute, with Aston Villa’s
James Milner replacing his club teammate Ashley Young. The former Leeds and
Newcastle winger went out on to the left and put in many great balls for Cole,
Defoe and Wright-Phillips to contend for. Milner’s crosses were creating
chances, but no-one, it seemed, could beat the Dutch defence. Cole went close
with twenty minutes left after some great footwork on the edge of the area.
Cole went left, then right and then left again, and then volleyed goalwards.
The strike went just wide of the Dutch goal; England were getting closer.
With
fourteen minutes to go, Milner brilliantly received the ball after Cole played
a cross-field ball to the winger and Milner put a great low ball in, straight
across the six-yard box, with Wright-Phillips and Defoe both stretching to get
there. It was Defoe who got there, meaning that England were all-level.
Holland, going for the winner, put Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on for Kuyt, while
England put Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge on for Cole. The mentality
of the two managers was obvious. It was England, though, who had the better
chances late on, with Cole going close after being put in by Lampard. Cole, who
worked his socks off for the half-hour that he was on the pitch, deserved a
goal. He came close again when Milner whipped in a cross, only for the ball to
be met by an orange shirt.
Liverpool
left-back Johnson must have been fed up with his club teammate Ryan Babel by
the end of the match. The winger gave Johnson a torrid time in the second-half,
and, with two minutes to go, the former-Portsmouth player foolishly brought
down Babel on the edge of the area. From the resulting free kick, John Terry
blocked Sneijder’s shot and, from the corner, Babel went close with a volley.
England were still pressing at the end of the game, which will have pleased
Capello. He will not be so pleased, however, with the ridiculous mistakes made
by Ferdinand, Johnson and Barry in the first half. This game was only a
friendly and, admittedly, none of the players will have wanted to strain
themselves too much, but those sort of mistakes cannot happen in international
football. On the whole it was a good performance from England, especially from
the players that came on in the second-half.
How they did… /10
Robert Green 8
Good,
solid performance from the West Ham goalkeeper. Staked a real claim for the number
one jersey for South Africa.
Glen Johnson 5
Sloppy
in clearing the ball and was partly at fault for the first goal. Was beaten by
Babel too many times down the wing. Not a good performance from the man that
Liverpool have paid £17.5 million for this summer.
Rio Ferdinand 4
Still
in pre-season mode. At fault for the first goal, partly at fault for the second
and didn’t look particularly confident at all throughout the game.
John Terry 7
Solid
performance and couldn’t do anything about either goal. As always, a strong showing
from the captain.
Ashley Cole 6
Beaten
by Robben too many times down the wing, but a decent performance. Not bad, but
not particularly good.
David Beckham 6
Committed,
as always, but not a great performance. Wasted a few free-kicks, but tried hard
for his country. Can he really still play for England when he plays for LA
Galaxy?
Frank Lampard 7
Not
a great first half, but improved in the second. Did well in setting up Defoe
for his first goal.
Gareth Barry 4
Poor
performance from the Manchester City midfielder. At fault for the second goal
and didn’t really contribute greatly. The usually confident midfielder couldn’t
handle Van der Vaart.
Ashley Young 7
Strong
performance from the winger who has now got one foot in the door to that left
midfield position. He can cross, shoot, pass and take set-pieces. And he’s
pretty quick- terrifying for a defender.
Wayne Rooney 6
Committed
as ever but didn’t really get the chance to develop in the game. Was in the
middle of some great team play, but struggled to play up front as, basically, a
lone-striker.
Emile Heskey 6
Was
selected to give some height and muscle up front for England. He got out jumped
and outmuscled on many occasions by Ooijer and Mathijsen.
Jermain Defoe 9
Scored
both goals and was named Man of the Match. Great finish for the first and in
the right place at the right time for the second. Good performance.
Shaun
Wright-Phillips 8
Terrified
the Dutch defence in the second half with his speed. Good performance from the
Manchester City midfielder.
Michael Carrick 8
Strong
performance from the Manchester United midfielder, much more confident than
Barry. Sprayed balls cross-field for the whole of the second-half and made no mistakes.
Carlton Cole 9
Worked
his socks off for his country. Many have questioned Capello’s decision to keep
selecting him but Cole showed them why. Deserved a goal for his hard work. My
man of the match.
James Milner 9
Like
Cole, worked really hard. A good debut for the 24 year old. Whipped in great
crosses from the left on his right foot. Maybe needs to learn to use his left
foot.
