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England v Russia

Wednesday, 12th of September
Wembley

European Qualification, Group E

Yet another match here tonight then at the Wembley Stadium as England take on Russia in a very important match. England who are without former Leeds United central defender Rio Ferdinand, now currently playing for Manchester United, which has given Everton’s Joleon Lescott the opportunity to make his debute from start in the England shirt. Russia on the other hand are in full strength having won their fixture against FYR Macedonia two goals to nil in Moscow. Goals from Ivan Saenko and Alexandr Kerzhakov were enough to put Russia only two points adrift of England in Group E.

Were ready for kick-off then here at Wembley with the following starting eleven for England, Robinson, Richards, Terry, Lescott, Cole, Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Bent and Rooney. Scholes finds himself on the bench for the first time since returning to the international team as he’s replaced by Frank Lampard, Lescott as predicted is given his debute for England whilst Darren Bent and Rooney form what McClaren hopes to be a deadly duo.

There have been a lot of rumours about a fall out, between England manager McClaren and Lampard ahead of the game. Is this Lampard’s final chance to prove himself better then Scholes? I was aloud to watch one of England’s training sessions prior to the match, and to be honest I can’t understand why Frank’s on the field to be honest.

England lose the ball directly from the kick-off when Frank Lampard hits a pathetic pass to whom I belive should have been Shaun Wright-Phillips the ball is intercepted by Russia’s number nine who plays the ball forwards through the middle of the two England defenders, Kerzhakov for Russia… well saved by Paul Robinson who clears the ball up field. That’s surely not the way Lampard’s going too please McClaren, England are lucky not be a goal behind just seconds from kick-off.

Five minutes later and Ashley Cole has the ball for an English throw-in, he throws it long to Gareth Barry down the left flank who crosses the ball to Steven Gerrard just inside the box to the left of the Russian penalty box, he nods the ball forwards to Rooney whose coming forwards with speed, … ROONEY? No, he plays the ball straight across the goalmouth to an incoming unmarked Darren Bent, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL. Bent strikes the ball directly up into the top of the net. Unstoppable! England take the lead after seven minutes here at Wembley.

Russia from the kick-off then Saenko holds the ball for a very long time inside the centre-half he’s challenged by a daft Rooney who just misses Ivan’s knee with an inch or two, that would surly have given Rooney a red card! The balls played out to Sennikov who plays the ball forwards to Zhirkov, who hits the ball into the middle back to Saenko whose charging towards the England goal, he strikers the ball with fierce power … IT’S IN RUSSIA EQUALISE, the ball goes in with a nice deflection of the bar. What a poor mistake by the English, especially the midfield Lampard in particular who doesn’t work his way back.

Russia made England pay there, and McClaren having a fit on the line. England nearly score only a minute after the Russian goal when Wayne Rooney is given a neat pass from the left hand side by Gareth Barry. Igor Akinfeev denies Marcus Bent at least twice during the rest of the opening twenty minutes, before pulling of an amazing who hand save to Shaun’s free-kick. Russia on the other hand a few more opportunity to take the lead but Paul Robinson’s worked himself into the game and denies the Russian strikers.

England come close to taking the lead just five minutes before the half-time interval when Darren Bent’s shot hit’s the upright before going out of play. He then has another free-kick saved impressively by Akinfeev, the balls cleared, but not far enough as Shaun Wright-Phillips knocks in another cross towards the far post, Lampard makes a jump but the Berezutskiy brothers block his way. So a corner here for England, Frank Lampard’s not pleased with the referee’s decision not to give him a penalty for what he claims a foul by the Russian brothers, but the referee won’t have anything of the sort, and Rooney’s needs to pull Lampard away from the referee to let the game continue.
Back to the game, Shaun with the corner here from the right-hand side, he crosses the ball towards Frank Lampard who’s yet again marked by one of the Berezutskiy brothers … WHAT THE WAS FRANK LAMPARD THINKING OF? The Russian defender falls to the ground, his hands in front of his face, blood trickling down from his forehead. Italian referee Stefano Farina walks forwards to Lampard who’s being hold back yet again by Rooney and Terry as the two nations exchange words in front of the Russian goal, … HE’S OFF, LAMPARD’S GIVEN THE STRAIGHT RED CARD. Dear god, honestly what was he thinking of? The replay shows the two jumping up challenging for the ball, but just before the ball arrives, Lampard knocks his elbow what looks like intentionally right into the face of the Russia defender, whose now being carried of for stitches.

McClaren makes it pretty oblivious what he thinks of Lampard’s actions and so do the English fans as Steve points directly to the changing rooms. The game doesn’t have time to restart before the referee blows for the half-time interval. I know someone who won’t be using kind words during the break. So very childish by Lampard to revenge himself in such a manner, just think of all the youngsters watching the game, looking at their idols play.

McClaren doesn’t make any changes in their team for the second half, but Steven Gerrard seems to have taken a more offensive position in the midfield for the second half. Wayne Rooney has a great opportunity to give England the lead during the opening seconds thanks to some sloppy Russian defending, but unfortunately for England the ball rattles the bar and rebounds into Russian possession.

Minutes later and the balls at the feet of Shaun Wright-Phillips down the left flank … an early cross here from Shaun towards the first post, BOTH BENT AND GERRARD GO UP FOR THE BALL, BENT GETS HIS HEAD TO IT …GOAAAAAAL! ENGLAND TAKE THE LEAD, thanks to a marvellous cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips who’s turning out to be as successful if not even more then his father Ian.
Only ten minutes later and it’s time for Bent to work his magic again, Rooney’s shot is saved by Akinfeev but the rebound drops straight in front of the goal, and who other then Darren Bent is waiting, to pounce on the ball.

Paul Scholes and Wes Brown are both introduced before the full time whistle, but the scoreline stays the same as England win another vital match here at Wembley Stadium. Bent is rightfully given the match ball as he’s awarded the man of the match award, for his impressive hattrick during the game. But that won’t be the headlines of tomorrow’s newspapers; sadly it will be cynical incident, which saw Lampard leave the Wembley Stadium for what might be the last time in an England kit. What will McClaren take as actions against the Chelsea midfielder?

::: = = = :::

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Sky Sports News

By Henry Winter Last updated: 13th September 2007

Hand In Your Shirt Lampard
English Football Association Press Conference

Frank Lampard’s unnecessary cynical tackle on Vasily Berezutskiy during yesterday’s European Championship Qualification, seems to have been the final straw for Steve McClaren, whose lost his patience with the now twenty-nine year old Chelsea midfielder. Steve denied to comment on the tackle situation after full-time, declaring he’d announce his and the Football Associations opinion, during today’s press conference.

During the brief press conference attended by Steve McClaren Chief Executive of the Football Association, Brian Barwick, and the Chairman Geoff Thompson. It was Barwick who would deliver the news. After the final whistle McClaren had apparently demanded an apologies from Frank Lampard for first of his poor performance but also for his cynical tackle. Frank bluntly arrogantly denied even though Steve informed him it was an ultimatum, either apologies or hand in his shirt.

This of course caused havoc inside the pres-room; Barwick informed the press that Frank still hadn’t contacted McClaren and that Steve had the backing for his actions by the entire board. What Frank had done had been egoistic, immature and unacceptable.

“It’s humanistic to react to something one disapproves of, but definitely not in the manor as Mr. Lampard did yesterday. Millions of younger lads and girls watch every movement the national players do, their idols, the ones the children look up to. I together with the Football Association have made it very clear to Frank Lampard, that his behaviour will not be tolerated; he was also given the opportunity to apologies but declined in a very arrogant way. Without an official apology not only to Vasily or me but also to the nation, I’ll find it hard to include Frank again whilst I’m the England coach.” Said a very determined England Manager.

As if the former announcement had caused havoc, it would be nothing compared to the announcement by the Steve McClaren. Has Frank Lampard played his last game for England, how will the other players react?
None of the players from yesterdays match were on hand for any interview after the press conference, but one can only imagine their opinions.

Should this decision split the team, and the team under perform then I can see no other possibility then McClaren getting the sack and Lampard returning to the team. But should the players back Steve, then it’s most likely to have been Frank Lampard’s final match for England.

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The Final Count Down
Sunday 7th of October

European Qualification

Steve McClaren hasn’t had the easiest time to pick his twenty-six man squad for the deceive games against Estonia and Russia in the European Qualification. The England side have had major injury problems ahead of the two qualification fixtures, both Paul Scholes and Michael Owen are unable to join McClaren’s team, with Scholes being side-lined for four months with a torn calf muscle, whilst Owen’s torn groin muscle keeps him out of first team action with both club and country for another month.
Replacing Owen and Rooney has been McClaren toughest task, with many of the Premier League clubs playing foreign international world-class strikers instead of home-blood Englishman. Causing what used to be regulars for McClaren’s side to be sidelined and this has affected their chances in the English squad.
Instead McClaren made what might be the most controversial decision should England not qualify for the European Championships. Blackburn’s Matt Derbyshire and Derby County’s Steve Howard have both been selected for the squad which will meet up in just a days time in London before heading to Estonia, where the first of the two fixtures will be played.

Matt Derbyshire has been somewhat of a regular in Stuart Pearce’s Under-21’s, with six appearances to his name. An impressive start in the Premiership the Blackburn striker whose netted five times in six matches, including the marvellous hattrick against Mlada Boleslav in the UEFA Cup.

Derby’s Steve Howard is completely unknown to the international side, with not a single appearance to his name, but now at age of thirty-one Howard’s finally been given the chance to make a name for himself, after scoring in three out four matches for his club. So it’s quite obvious that McClaren’s decided to go with the players in good form, instead of the bigger names that haven’t been regulars for their club.

Steve McClaren has also decided to recall Gary Neville to the England squad for the games against Estonia and Russia. Neville had been left out of McClaren’s previous two squads since dropping him in August 2007. Neville made his debut for England back in June 1995 against Japan, and the Manchester United captain has gone on to make eighty-five appearances for the national side.

***

McClaren's Announced England Squad


Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspurs)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Gary Neville (Manchester United), Micah Richards (Manchester City), and John Terry © (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Steven Gerrard Vice-© (Liverpool), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspurs), Gary O’Neil (Middlesbrough), Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea)

Strikers: Darren Bent (Tottenham Hotspurs), Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn Rovers), Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic), Steve Howard (Derby County), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) and Alan Smith (Newcastle)

***

Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson could be in line to make his first appearance for England along with a number of players, including Anton Ferdinand, Gary O’Neil, Matty Derbyshire and Steve Howard.

McClaren has also decided to recall a number of more familiar faces, including Gary Neville, Stewart Downing, Aaron Lennon and Wayne Bridge, who had been left out of McClaren’s previous squad.
Whilst the dispute between Frank Lampard and McClaren will no have affected Lampard’s absence for the two fixtures as the disciplinary committee ordered Frank Lampard to serve a further two match ban for his sending off in the European Championship Qualification match between England and Russia.

There seems to be nothing Owen Hargreaves can do to convince manger Steve McClaren to pick him for England, having failed to make the squad three times in a row.
Hargreaves has not played for England since being dropped by McClaren in August 2007 but the Manchester United central midfielder is still young enough to force his way back into the national side.

Hargreaves, who is valued at £17M, currently has 4 years remaining on his contract at Old Trafford.

McClaren’s side face Estonia on the 13th of October at Old Trafford before the deceive match against Russia the following Wednesday on the 17th of October. Stuart Pearce face Estonia on Friday at Upton Park in a friendly game, before playing Georgia in the UEFA Under-21 Qualifying Group D match at Darlington Arena.
England’s Under-19’s face Austria, Norway and Liechtenstein, in which all matches are to be played in Wien.

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Saturday 13th of October 2007

Job Done

England Vs Estonia

European Qualification Group E
Old Trafford

England faced Estonia at Old Trafford in the European Qualification Group E game, in a game, which before was more or less already decided. With the absence of Wayne Rooney, Steve McClaren introduced Matt Derbyshire for the start of the game as he paired up with Darren Bent of Tottenham Hotspurs as England’s strikers. The home side got off to a good start with two decent opportunities during the opening sixty seconds, as Matt Derbyshire nearly opened his England account after only sixty seconds, luckily for Estonia they had the marginal on their side as Matt’s header brushes the side of the post.

Estonia proved that they hadn’t come here to throw their towels in from the start and gradually worked themselves into the game. Paul Robinson had to be on guard, to prevail from fierce shot from GIF Sundsvall's, Tarmo Neemelo twenty minutes into the game. An elegant early cross from Chelsea’s youngster Shaun Wright-Phillips to Villa’s captain Gareth Barry was rounded up with an extremely impressive half volley, which soared into the far top corner, as Mart Poom was left stranded, seven minutes before the half-time interval.

Darren Bent was substituted during half time as McClaren introduced another England debutant, Steve Howard.
Estonia tried honourably to fight themselves back into the game, but it was no avail. With only two minutes left of the second half marked yet again. A sublime tackle down the left-hand side by Ashley Cole was the beginning of a quick effective counter-attack by the English. Cole’s delicately precise pass to Derby’s Steve Howard was as neatly placed in front of Blackburn Rover’s Matt Derbyshire’s feet, as he rounded Mart Poom to slot the ball into an open net, scoring the deceive goal.

England’s opening scorer Gareth Barry was awarded the man of the match award in a game England won without to much effort. But that’s what Steve McClaren will have asked from the lads; as they travel to the east to Russia for deceive game in Moscow. A win in Russia would see England qualify for the European Championships; it’s up to the lads now to make the nation proud.

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Russia v England

Wednesday 17th of October
Moscow

European Qualification, Group E

Welcome to England’s decisive match in the European Championship Qualification Group E at Luznikhi Stadium, Russia.
Steve McClaren will surely be disappointed that his star striker Wayne Rooney isn’t fit enough to play today’s important fixture, due a strained thigh during yesterdays training session. Emile Heskey is the striker most likely to be paired together with the in-form Tottenham Hotspurs striker Darren Bent for today’s match.
We have a full house here at the Luznikhi Stadium, which is only the second ever the stadium has packed in 70,000 fans for a football game. It’s a fantastic atmosphere here inside the stadium and you can feel the anxiety and anticipation ahead of the game, which is set to begin in just a few minutes.

Suddenly the stadium erupts into cheers and various chants, as the two nations line up beside each as they walk out onto the artificial pitch for the national anthems. England in red, start with Robinson, Richards, Terry, Ferdinand, Cole, Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Carrick, Barry, Heskey and Darren Bent.

Russia in white, start with Akinfeev in goal, Berezutskiy, Ignashevich, Berezutskiy, Sennikov, Saenko, Smertin, Boudianski, Torbinskiy, Kerzhakov and Schev, no surprises here then but it’s worth mentioning that England manager Steve McClaren hasn’t even got Wayne Rooney on the bench for the game.

As the national anthems come to an end, the anticipated game can finally begin.
Three minutes into the game and the Russians have possession near the England goal, Smertin is played brilliantly into play by Sychev, but Smertin loses the possession of the ball, as England clear the ball upwards. Emile Heskey recaptures the possession of the ball down the left hand flank for England who are coming forwards with immense speed on the counter attack. HESKEY WITH THE CROSS, TOWARDS THE HEAD OF DARREN BENT… no, the ball rattles the crossbar and Smertin is first to reach the ball and can clear it forwards back into English territory.

Paul Robinson makes a magnificent save minutes later, to deny the host the first goal in the game as the two teams fight for every meter during the opening ten minutes.
A silly mistake in the Russia midfield leads to England capturing the possession of the ball as Michael Carrick launches a long ball towards Darren Bent. A bit to long actually as Sergey Ignashevich gets to the ball first he passes the ball back to Akinfeev, but the pass is not hit hard enough… DARREN BENT FOR ENGLAND, HE DUMMIES THE RUSSIAN GOALKEEPER … GOAL!! Darren Bent opens the scoreline as he steals a wretched home pass by the Russian defender, before coolly running pass Akinfeev to slot the ball into an open net. What a start by England who take the lead after only ten minutes.

The Russians are forced back, nearer and nearer Akinfeev’s goal, as England mount the pressure on directly from kick-off, in the next twenty minutes the pass England have another four real close goal chances, but the long ranged shots aren’t accurate enough to put off Akinfeev.

Ten minute left here in Russia of the first half with Darren Bent half way in the Russian half, he strides pass one defender, looks up ... GOAL!! DARREN BENT DOES IT AGAIN, his second goal of the night and what a screamer from at least ten yards outside the Russian penalty box, the Tottenham Hotspurs lashes the ball just under the bar with an amazing force, there’s no chance in the world for Akinfeev whose giving his defenders a right scolding.

England go into the halftime interval with a two goals advantage for the second half, there’s only forty-five minutes from qualifying for the European Championships. Can McClaren motivate his players for the second half, to continue to stay focussed? Steve McClaren doesn’t make any changes for the second half as it kicks off again, here in Moscow for what we hope is another entertaining forty-five minutes.

Six minutes into the game and England break through the Russian defence as if it was on the training ground; Heskey with the ball passes it forwards to Darren BENT… who SHOTS … Saved by Akinfeev BUT DARREN BENT POUNCES ON THE REBOUND, GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! THAT’S HIS HATTRICK AND SURLY HE’S SEALED IT FOR ENGLAND NOW, 3-0!

Both David Beckham and Nigel Reo-Coker are substituted on both the yellow-carded pair Steven Gerrard and Shaun Wright-Phillips who’s had a massive impact on today’s game down the right hand-side. Nothing seems to stop Darren Bent from scoring here as he continues to work hard towards what he hopes will be his fourth goal of the game.

The Russians must be given some sort of credit for at least trying to break Paul Robinson’s clean-sheet but alike his team-mate Darren Bent, Paul Robinson’s on fire tonight and pulls of multiple saves, which even England’s legendary goalkeeper Gordan Banks would have been pleased off. With only seconds left of the second half Emile Heskey is taken of for Matt Derbyshire, but that wont change anything as Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez BLOWS THE FINAL WHISTLE AND ENGLAND HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS IN AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND NEXT SUMMER!

What a performance by the lads who despite the cold perform a honourable performance. Darren Bent is yet again England’s saviour with a truly World-Class hattrick, one which any player would have been proud of, as he earns his third Man of the Match award since the match against Israel.

England Have Qualified For The European Championships 2008