Well, I could certainly get used to this new England. A pointless friendly? Try telling that to Fabio Capello and his team.
Sure, it’s wasn’t the 5-1 whitewash from years gone by, but it was something that’s become a rarity from England when it comes to international friendlies over the years: impressive.
And this was only the second string–England’s ‘reserves’, if you will.
Much was made over the various withdrawals in the squad throughout the week, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney dropping out due to injury.
A disaster, some would say.
As it turned out, it was more like a blessing in disguise, as it gave the second string a chance to stake their claims and gave Capello, a man for whom reputations count for nothing, a big problem for the next game.
- B/R Ticket Guide
And they did just that.
Matthew Upson was solid and composed in the heart of the England defence and managed to get himself a goal.
Michael Carrick was neat and tidy with the ball and disciplined without it.
Stewart Downing provided balance on the left-hand side, and created both goals with two dangerous set-piece deliveries.
And in his first England appearance, Gabriel Agbonlahor caused the Germany defence problems all evening with his raw pace and clever movement.
Capello now has a problem, the kind of problem every manager wants to have. There's healthy competition for places, and that can only be good for England.
Make no mistake about it, bar the Carson debacle (which, to be honest, I’m sick of talking about, Terry and Carson are equally culpable), everything clicked into place for England tonight.
Despite the unfamiliarity of the lineup, England looked more like a team than other England sides from years gone by.
Because every time I see this England team, they look better and better. More comfortable in possession, more compact without the ball, and more like a team. There was balance, shape, and professionalism.
And that’s the key. No longer do England play as a team of individuals. There’s now balance, and unsurprisingly, things are beginning to click into place.
After a slow start in charge, Capello is beginning to make his mark. Long may it continue.
comments (0) write a comment »
write a new comment
This article has no comments.