Match Summary

England Team

Steve McLaren described Estonia as "dogged opponents" but in all honesty this game was won and lost in just 34 minutes as England set up the clash in Russia next Wednesday as the pivotal group match.

Estonia kicked off and immediately lost possession, a sign of their poor standard, and it gave Michael Owen a great chance to score after just 15 seconds of the match.  Goalkeeper Mart Poom managed to block Owen's shot but England were soon pushing forward again.  Other half chances came and went but the early goal England craved did arrive in the 11^th minute.  Micah Richards gave a short pass to Shaun Wright-Phillips and the winger shot instantly, diagonally, and through Poom's legs into the net.

Wayne Rooney was looking very sharp and one brilliant chip deserved a goal but just cleared the bar with Poom scrambling back.  The Manchester United player was then crudely hacked down by Raio Piiroja but gained his revenge in the best possible way by scoring a second England goal.  Joe Cole, also looking lively, crossed into the middle and although Rooney's shot took a deflection it was definitely his goal, and his first for England in three years.  Two minutes later England scored a third goal, the best of the match.  Unfortunately for Estonia it was scored by their own defender, Taavi Rahn.  He tried to head behind for a corner from the edge of the area but only succeeded in finding the net with Poom having no chance to save.

So, 34 minutes gone and the game was won for England.  At half-time most people present thought that McLaren would make full use of his substitutes but he only made one change at the interval, giving Joleon Lescott his debut.  The Everton defender made an early mistake, which was rectified by Ashley Cole's clearance.  Unfortunately Cole sustained a nasty ankle injury in the incident and had to be carried off.  He looks doubtful for the next game.

After that the game just petered out.  England completely lost interest, Estonia were so poor that there was no way back for them, and McLaren showed no real urgency to score more goals by leaving Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe on the bench.  By the time the game ended the stadium was almost empty.  Mind you, a certain Rugby World Cup semi-final for the other England team, kicking off later, may have had something to do with that.

It was an easy win for the England football team though and a mismatch of a game against an Estonia side that celebrate a goal every two years!

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
SkySports.com/football
UEFA.com
Soccerlens.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
____________________

CG