England National Football Team Match No. 857

England 3 Estonia 0 [3-0]

Saturday, 13 October 2007

Match Summary and Report

National Stadium, Wembley, 13 October 2007 - The team that faced Estonia.
Steven Gerrard (captain), Paul Robinson, Rio Ferdinand, Gareth Barry, Wayne Rooney,
Shaun Wright-Phillips, Micah Richards, Sol Campbell, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, Michael Owen.
 

Match Summary

England Team

9th in FIFA ranking of 19th September 2007; 7th in Elo world ranking before this match and xth after this match.

England Lineup

England Substitutes

4-4-2

Robinson -
Richards, Campbell, Ferdinand (Lescott), A Cole (Neville) -
Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Barry, J Cole -
Owen (Lampard), Rooney.

Estonia Team

127th in FIFA ranking of 19th September 2007; 112th in Elo world ranking before this match and xxth after this match.

Estonia Lineup

Estonia Substitutes

4-4-2

Poom -
Jääger, Stepanov, Piiroja, Kruglovm -
Dmitrijev, Lindpere, Rähn, Klavan -
Kink (Viikmäe), Saag.

Match Report

 

Wayne Rooney scored his first international goal since 2004 as England eased past Estonia in their Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley.   Shaun-Wright-Phillips set England on their way when his shot from the right went through keeper Mart Poom's legs. 

Rooney almost ended his goal drought with an exquisite chip before netting with a deflected shot from 15 yards.  Taavi Rahn headed an own goal from 20 yards just before half-time but England failed to score in the second half.

It was a comfortable win for Steve McClaren's men, who did not have to be at their best to dispatch a weak Estonia side.  But once again, Gareth Barry produced a solid performance in the midfield after being preferred to Frank Lampard, and McClaren will be delighted that Rooney got himself on the scoresheet.  And with England three goals up at half-time, McClaren chose to exercise caution ahead of Wednesday's trip to Moscow by bringing off Rio Ferdinand, who would have missed the game had he picked up a booking.

However, Ashley Cole, who was also on a yellow card but came out for the second half, may not face Russia after he was stretchered off just a couple of minutes after the restart.  The Chelsea left-back fell awkwardly after he and substitute Joleon Lescott, on for Ferdinand, clumsily dealt with a rare Estonia attack.  Before that it had been plain sailing for England, who got the start they wanted when Wright-Phillips' shot squirmed past Poom after only 11 minutes.  And centre-back Sol Campbell, winning his 70th cap because of skipper John Terry's injury, could hardly have had an easier match in which to make his international comeback after a 16-month absence.

By contrast, Estonia's defence looked extremely vulnerable with Rooney and Joe Cole particularly dangerous.  And the two combined for England's second when Cole's cross from the left was stepped over by Michael Owen and Rooney struck the ball into the bottom corner via a deflection.  There was considerably more Estonian involvement in England's third a minute later when Rahn spectacularly headed past his own keeper from outside the penalty area as he tried to cut out Ashley Cole's cross.

England's rhythm faltered after the interval and Estonia managed to test Paul Robinson with a couple of efforts.  The Spurs keeper, who had been the subject of debate over his place in the starting line-up amid shaky club form, fumbled a drive by Ragnar Klavan but collected at the second attempt.  For a 10-minute spell, Estonia threatened to come into the game but never really looked capable.  Yet England appeared unable or unwilling - perhaps with a eye on Wednesday's crucial match - to step through the gears and make their superiority tell.

Steven Gerrard had a free-kick easily saved and Owen struggled a little with the offside trap, while Joe Cole dribbled down the flank without end product.  Owen made way for Frank Lampard, who was unfairly booed by the crowd as he stepped on to the Wembley turf, and England seemed satisfied with their third successive 3-0 win.  Gerrard and Joe Cole wasted a golden chance to score a fourth when they found themselves two-on-one against the Estonia defence but made a complete hash of it.  Shortly after that Joe Cole failed to make amends when he dragged a shot wide.

Source Notes

Sources

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
UEFA.com

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CG