England vs Egypt: Capello Posed Questions As Crouch Shines, Defoe Flops

A brace from Peter Crouch saw England end up comfortable 3-1 winners against an enterprising Egypt team, but the scoreline masked a poor first half showing from the Three Lions.

There are few, if any, nations who are happier that the World Cup is still over three months away than England.

Racked by injury, loss of form, and scandal, they will be grateful for every single day they have left to prepare.

Few of those will prove as useful as March 3. Despite a positive result, the friendly against Egypt has posed as many questions for Fabio Capello as it has provided answers.

Steven Gerrard pulled on the armband as he began his short and unexpected preparation for World Cup captaincy.

Leighton Baines made his debut at left back, in the absence of the injured Cole and the unavailable Bridge.

Defoe partnered Rooney from the start. This was his last chance to oust the reliable Emile Heskey from Capello's team.

It was back to international business for John Terry, too, a few days after his reunion with Wayne Bridge. His first touch was booed, but his second barely raised a murmur, the Wembley crowd presumably not in pantomime mood.

Egypt were expected to present as stern a test as North Africa has to offer, and to serve as England's team-specific warm-up game ahead of their Group C clash with Algeria.

They were until this week ranked 10th in the world, and are still on a high after retaining the African Cup of Nations.

England started brightly, and in just the fifth minute, a burst forward and cut back from Theo Walcott presented the simplest of chances to Frank Lampard. However, the Chelsea man has been out of sorts lately, and his tame finish from six yards was straight at the keeper.

Little did those in attendance know that they had already seen England's first half highlight.

Four minutes later, Egypt signalled their intent from a corner, which was nervously conceded by Baines. The resulting set piece was pumped deep into the box, and Wael Gomaa's tame, bouncing volley was cleared off the line by the alert Defoe.

Then on 10 minutes, a clever one-two presented Motaeb with a headed half chance, but he was crowded out by Terry and Upson.

It was a sign of things to come.

The partnership between Defoe and Rooney, under the microscope from the start, first bore fruit after 13 minutes.

Rooney's cute through gave Defoe a sight of goal, but the Spurs man took a touch too many and was robbed of the ball. At the other end, the ominous Zidan blazed over from a tight angle.

Indeed, Lampards chance aside, the Africans looked more like scoring in the first 20 minutes.

On 22 minutes they took a deserved lead.

A hopeful high ball into the England box eluded the clumsy Upson and reached Zidan. The Dortmund star, with plenty still to do, killed the ball with his first touch and guided it past Green from 16 yards with his second.

A shell-shocked England, toothless since the opening minutes, struggled to respond, finding pressure and chances hard to come by.

On the other hand, Egypt looked neat and incisive on the counter, belying their failure to qualify for a trip to South Africa.

Indeed, England's next chance was presented to them, Egypt's central defenders combining to hand them a corner. From Baines' delivery, Gareth Barry's blocked header fell to Lampard eight yards out, but his volley was scuffed into the ground and bounced high and wide.

Hard working and talented, Motaeb and Zidan posed a constant, mobile threat to the England back four.

In contrast, Walcott and Defoe, who both came into the game looking to make a big impression, toiled anonymously. Rooney, double and triple marked, struggled to get into any sort of rhythm, and his frustration began to show. Defoe and Rooney flicked similarly ambitious headers goalward, neither troubling El Haddari.

Indeed, it took until 40 minutes for Jermain Defoe to have his first shot on target, his powerful drive from 10 yards parried away by the keeper. England briefly flickered, with half chances for Terry and Walcott, but fizzled out before half time.

Crouch replaced Defoe at half time, and one can only assume that his modest display has done nothing to press his claims for a start against the USA on June 12.

Capello will likely conclude that he is more effective coming from the bench, as he displayed in Amsterdam. Lampard came off too, replaced by Carrick.

His recent form for club and country could yet cast his place in the England team into doubt.

At the start of the second half Rooney finally bore his teeth, turning on the edge of the area and curling a shot goalward. However, his effort was easily saved by El Haddari, and the Egyptians broke in familiar fashion, capitalizing on a mistake from Brown to win a corner.

Zidan's resultant shot was straight at Green.

England's equalizer was so sudden it was almost alarming.

The ball was worked to the previously quiet Gerrard; he got his head up in the midfield.

His first time pass to Barry was popped first time into the path of Crouch, who drilled it first time and low past El Haddari. The first piece of fluency from England led to their first goal.

The goal and the introduction of Wright-Phillips for Walcott galvanised England.

Suddenly they were getting time on the ball, getting in behind the full backs, getting the ball back easily from Egypt. Where Lampard struggled, Carrick excelled, knocking the ball around with class and purpose. His ball, Crouch's flick and Gerrard's shot a sign of the turning tide.

Moments later, Gerrard released Wright-Phillips, who's cross eluded Crouch's bicycle kick and bounced around the box, eventually finding the boot of Rooney, who's hooked volley went over.

The raft of substitutions continued, Motaeb bringing an excellent shift to and end.

Gedo and Zaki came on, but the next chance fell to Rooney, who's finish from an acute angle flashed across the face of goal.

England by now were well on top, and Milner's introduction for Gerrard was to have an almost immediate effect. But not before Terry's lack of pace was nearly exposed by Gedo.

The under-fire Chelsea man did just enough to force the Alexandria United striker wide and his cross shot was watched past the post by Green.

Immediately England went straight up the other end of the pitch and scored.

James Milner was at the heart of the move, turning 20 yards out, sweeping a pass wide to Baines and getting on the end of the resultant cross. His volley goalwards was palmed away by El Haddari, but only to Shaun Wright-Phillips, whos shot completely deceived the keeper and flew in down the middle.

England smelled blood, and with 10 minutes to go they killed the game stone dead. A lovely one-two with Wes Brown freed the impressive Wright-Phillips down the right, and his low cross was turned in by the lethal Crouch.

The final 10 minutes passed without incident, affording Capello time to ponder his options.

With tonight's performances, Crouch, Carrick and Wright-Phillips have thrust themselves firmly into contention for starting places, and Milner's case continues to grow.

Jermain Defoe may have had his last chance to step up from the bench, and Frank Lampard is still not guaranteed his place.

Baines also acquitted himself well on his debut, but Ashley Cole will be a shoe-in if fit.

One thing that is certain is that, for all the guessing games, only Capello knows what his first team now us.

And he isn't telling anyone until England next play in 12 weeks time.