England Vs Croatia – Euro 2008 Qualifier – 21st November 2007
England ended their latest European Championship qualification bid in ruin as Croatia became the second team to win at the ‘new’ Wembley Stadium and in doing so they condemned Steve Maclaren’s men to a summer without football. The England manager and his players are sure to feel the backlash of defeat and ultimately the failure of securing a place in Austria and Switzerland but how exactly did the players perform…
Scott Carson
Having replaced Paul Robinson in goal the last thing Carson needed was a Robinson like error to begin his International career. Although he was blameless for the second and made a couple of excellent stops in the second half to keep England in the game it may not be long before England are looking for their fourth number one goalkeeper of the season.
Micah Richards
The Manchester City full back having performed so well in the previous Wembley encounters during qualification showed his inexperience with a couple of defensive errors which almost cost his side. Playing against a side packed full of quality Richards looked excellent in tandem with Wright-Phillips going forward but was once or twice caught out of position leading to goal scoring opportunities for Croatia.
Sol Campbell
As England’s senior defender, Campbell’s task was a difficult one and he performed admirably in the circumstances. Without the pace of a Ferdinand or a Woodgate the Portsmouth defender looked desperately exposed and was caught out by the speed of Croatia counter attacks on several occasions. He was more able to deal with the aerial threat of England’s opponents in the second half but on the ground he, alongside the other members of his back four looked shaky.
Joleon Lescott
In the centre of defense alongside Campbell, Lescott looked more steady than he did against Russia but like Richards his International experience told against a quality International side. More often than not Lescott was in the correct position but was frequently out thought and out maneuvered by the sprightly Croatian forward line.
Wayne Bridge
Chelsea’s left back having just returned from injury looked like a player short on confidence and fitness in the first half and it was no surprise that the second goal came down the England left where Bridge was caught out of position. Unlike his Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole, Bridge was unable to form a successful link up with Joe Cole and was prevented from getting on the ball and providing Crouch with crosses due to his side spending most of their time on the back foot.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Starting ahead of David Beckham, Wright-Phillips showed why in the first half before he was rather unjustifiably hauled off in favour of the former captain. In the opening moments, Wright-Phillips frightened the life out of the Croatian defense with his pace and excellent link up with Richards. As England switched off at the back he received less and less of the ball and became more of an auxiliary wing back than an attacking winger. Provided with more off the ball, he could have been the player to drag England back into the game and he was unfortunate not to get on the score-sheet with a great chance in the first half.
Steven Gerrard
England’s captain had yet another quiet game in the jersey of his country. Alongside Frank Lampard, Gerrard was once again forced to play in more of a holding role whilst his colleague was allowed to get forward and despite the presence of Gareth Barry in the deepest midfield position, Gerrard’s willing to get on the ball meant that any passes he played into Peter Crouch were not returned as he was always far to far away from the action. When England went down 2 – 0 Gerrard began bustling into tackles and looked to be trying to help England back into the game but as the match became more and more stretched he became an increasingly peripheral figure.
Frank Lampard
Returning to the England side after a recent loss of form and a broken toe injury, Lampard once again took up his place in the three lions midfield and failed to produce anything worthy of note. Despite getting on the score sheet Lampard appeared far too often on the left wing or ahead of the attackers instead of building a solid midfield base with Gerrard and Barry. His failure to stamp his authority on the game in the same way he does at Chelsea, even in a four man midfield once again brought forth the theory that it should be either / or in the Lampard vs Gerrard debate.
Joe Cole
One of England most consistent performers in recent years was unable to help his side out when they needed him due to the poor quality of the pitch available which prevented the Chelsea man from demonstrating the dribbling ability which has earned him the troublesome left wing position on a full time basis. All too frequently Cole was ignored in England attacks and despite the presence of Wayne Bridge alongside him, Cole was unable to build up any kind of link up with his club mate and therefore struggled to really get into the game.
Gareth Barry
Neat and tidy as always, the five man midfield did not really help Barry play his natural game of picking up the ball and distributing possession to those attackers around him. All too frequently Gerrard was Barry’s only passing option and although hauled off at half time, one presumes this was a tactical switch to help England go forward as Barry looked far more comfortable playing in central midfield than Lampard did in the second period.
Peter Crouch
Probably England’s star performer, the lanky striker took his goal excellently and played very well as England’s loan front man. Causing a constant threat to a shaky looking Croatian backline in the early stages the unfortunate thing for Crouch was his lack of support and inability to link up with Cole and Wright-Phillips due to his isolation as the lone striker. When Defoe was brought on in the second half Crouch was able to play his more natural game and looked much more comfortable with a partner alongside him.
David Beckham
England’s savior from six years ago almost provided similar heroics with an excellent pass to Peter Crouch in the equalizing goal. Presumably left out because of his lack of pace, the 4-4-2 system suited Beckham more readily and provided with the ball at every available occasion his distribution was exemplary. From set plays Beckham was unable to find his target however and this caused England’s attacking set pieces to frequently come to nothing. With increased match fitness and a continuing need for his deadly right foot, he is set to make 100 caps in the near future.
Jermaine Defoe
Having caused trouble when he came on against Austria, Defoe was a half time sub to boost England’s attacking options and did just that when he arrived on the field. Cleverly winning a penalty, Defoe was a nuisance to the Croatian defense and playing off Peter Crouch he gave England what they lacked in the first half.
Darren Bent
Like his Tottenham forward Bent came on to give England something in behind the defense and to help provide a foil for Crouch. Having just recently broken into his club sides starting eleven he will be forgiven for failing to convert the chance which came his way and his willingness to work demonstrated that he has a future at International level no matter who is in charge.
Having replaced Paul Robinson in goal the last thing Carson needed was a Robinson like error to begin his International career. Although he was blameless for the second and made a couple of excellent stops in the second half to keep England in the game it may not be long before England are looking for their fourth number one goalkeeper of the season.
Micah Richards
The Manchester City full back having performed so well in the previous Wembley encounters during qualification showed his inexperience with a couple of defensive errors which almost cost his side. Playing against a side packed full of quality Richards looked excellent in tandem with Wright-Phillips going forward but was once or twice caught out of position leading to goal scoring opportunities for Croatia.
Sol Campbell
As England’s senior defender, Campbell’s task was a difficult one and he performed admirably in the circumstances. Without the pace of a Ferdinand or a Woodgate the Portsmouth defender looked desperately exposed and was caught out by the speed of Croatia counter attacks on several occasions. He was more able to deal with the aerial threat of England’s opponents in the second half but on the ground he, alongside the other members of his back four looked shaky.
Joleon Lescott
In the centre of defense alongside Campbell, Lescott looked more steady than he did against Russia but like Richards his International experience told against a quality International side. More often than not Lescott was in the correct position but was frequently out thought and out maneuvered by the sprightly Croatian forward line.
Wayne Bridge
Chelsea’s left back having just returned from injury looked like a player short on confidence and fitness in the first half and it was no surprise that the second goal came down the England left where Bridge was caught out of position. Unlike his Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole, Bridge was unable to form a successful link up with Joe Cole and was prevented from getting on the ball and providing Crouch with crosses due to his side spending most of their time on the back foot.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Starting ahead of David Beckham, Wright-Phillips showed why in the first half before he was rather unjustifiably hauled off in favour of the former captain. In the opening moments, Wright-Phillips frightened the life out of the Croatian defense with his pace and excellent link up with Richards. As England switched off at the back he received less and less of the ball and became more of an auxiliary wing back than an attacking winger. Provided with more off the ball, he could have been the player to drag England back into the game and he was unfortunate not to get on the score-sheet with a great chance in the first half.
Steven Gerrard
England’s captain had yet another quiet game in the jersey of his country. Alongside Frank Lampard, Gerrard was once again forced to play in more of a holding role whilst his colleague was allowed to get forward and despite the presence of Gareth Barry in the deepest midfield position, Gerrard’s willing to get on the ball meant that any passes he played into Peter Crouch were not returned as he was always far to far away from the action. When England went down 2 – 0 Gerrard began bustling into tackles and looked to be trying to help England back into the game but as the match became more and more stretched he became an increasingly peripheral figure.
Frank Lampard
Returning to the England side after a recent loss of form and a broken toe injury, Lampard once again took up his place in the three lions midfield and failed to produce anything worthy of note. Despite getting on the score sheet Lampard appeared far too often on the left wing or ahead of the attackers instead of building a solid midfield base with Gerrard and Barry. His failure to stamp his authority on the game in the same way he does at Chelsea, even in a four man midfield once again brought forth the theory that it should be either / or in the Lampard vs Gerrard debate.
Joe Cole
One of England most consistent performers in recent years was unable to help his side out when they needed him due to the poor quality of the pitch available which prevented the Chelsea man from demonstrating the dribbling ability which has earned him the troublesome left wing position on a full time basis. All too frequently Cole was ignored in England attacks and despite the presence of Wayne Bridge alongside him, Cole was unable to build up any kind of link up with his club mate and therefore struggled to really get into the game.
Gareth Barry
Neat and tidy as always, the five man midfield did not really help Barry play his natural game of picking up the ball and distributing possession to those attackers around him. All too frequently Gerrard was Barry’s only passing option and although hauled off at half time, one presumes this was a tactical switch to help England go forward as Barry looked far more comfortable playing in central midfield than Lampard did in the second period.
Peter Crouch
Probably England’s star performer, the lanky striker took his goal excellently and played very well as England’s loan front man. Causing a constant threat to a shaky looking Croatian backline in the early stages the unfortunate thing for Crouch was his lack of support and inability to link up with Cole and Wright-Phillips due to his isolation as the lone striker. When Defoe was brought on in the second half Crouch was able to play his more natural game and looked much more comfortable with a partner alongside him.
David Beckham
England’s savior from six years ago almost provided similar heroics with an excellent pass to Peter Crouch in the equalizing goal. Presumably left out because of his lack of pace, the 4-4-2 system suited Beckham more readily and provided with the ball at every available occasion his distribution was exemplary. From set plays Beckham was unable to find his target however and this caused England’s attacking set pieces to frequently come to nothing. With increased match fitness and a continuing need for his deadly right foot, he is set to make 100 caps in the near future.
Jermaine Defoe
Having caused trouble when he came on against Austria, Defoe was a half time sub to boost England’s attacking options and did just that when he arrived on the field. Cleverly winning a penalty, Defoe was a nuisance to the Croatian defense and playing off Peter Crouch he gave England what they lacked in the first half.
Darren Bent
Like his Tottenham forward Bent came on to give England something in behind the defense and to help provide a foil for Crouch. Having just recently broken into his club sides starting eleven he will be forgiven for failing to convert the chance which came his way and his willingness to work demonstrated that he has a future at International level no matter who is in charge.