Match Summary

Denmark Team

England Team

England began 2011 with an excellent performance and win in Copenhagen, a city they hadn't won in since 1978, when Kevin Keegan scored twice in a 4-3 win.  Fabio Capello's side had more than a makeshift look about it, although John Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole of the 'old guard' were all in the team.  This was an opportunity for some of the younger players to make a mark and all eyes were on Jack Wilshere's first start.

The match was lively from the first whistle with both sides looking more effective going forward than they did when they defended.  Young Wilshere of Arsenal looked confident on the ball and slotted in well next to Lampard, the skipper on the night.  But Denmark saw a lot of the ball and strung some neat passing moves together.  Christian Eriksen looked very impressive for the home side and he caused England several problems.  But England, too, had their moments, and to be honest they looked the most likely to score early on, especially when Rooney saw a shot cleared off the line after Darren bent had chased down a bad backpass.  But alas it was Denmark who broke the deadlock with a super header from Liverpool's Daniel Agger.  A superb volleyed pass to the right by Krohn-Dehli gave Eriksen possession and he had too much time to pick his spot with a cross.  In came Agger with a lovely glancing header that gave Joe Hart no chance, much to the goalkeeper's annoyance.

If that was tough on England, they came back with a vengeance just a minute later.  Rooney switched wings with a raking pass that found Theo Walcott on the right.  The winger jostled past Simon Poulsen and produced the perfect low cross to the far post where Bent was in the right place at the right time to side-foot the ball home.  The equaliser was deserved, and for the rest of the half both sides had long bouts of good possession and both could have taken the lead as chances were created at either end.  Nicklas Bentner shot wide for Denmark, and then Bent was within an inch of reaching James Milner's excellent cross to the near post.  The nearest we came to a goal was when the outstanding Eriksen again showed his pedigree with a lovely run and shot which cannoned back off of Hart's left-hand post.  It was a narrow squeak for England but perhaps Capello deserved that slice of good luck for a change.

Lampard did have the ball in the net with a clever back-heel as half-time approached, but was ruled offside, and that was one of the skipper's last contributions as Capello made three changes at the break.  On came Ashley Young, Scott Parker and Gareth Barry and off went Rooney, Lampard and Wilshere.  Far from upsetting England, the new trio made an immediate impact as England looked tighter at the back and good going forward.  Parker was busy and effective in his link role, and Barry did what he does best by hustling and nicking the ball off the home player's feet.  England also pressed Denmark better and the substitutions the home team made were not as good as England's.  Young was also a livewire and England were soon creating goal chances.  A great cross from Young gave Bent a headed chance, and only a brave save by goalkeeper Sorensen saved his side.  Then Bent shot wide from a great pass from Milner, and then the winger set up Young for a glancing header, again saved by Sorensen.  At the other end Hart got down well to save Rommedahl's shot after more clever work from Eriksen.

England controlled large chunks of the second half with a good solid display.  They passed the ball well and confidently and there was a lot to be admired about the way they went about their business.  The good play was then finally rewarded with a super goal, his first for England, from Young.  Another substitute Stuart Downing and Glen Johnson worked hard to shut down a Denmark player and they robbed him of possession.  Johnson strode forward well and laid the ball inside to Young, who calmly side-footed England's second goal past Sorensen.  The same player almost scored again shortly afterwards and England were by now in control of the game.  Ashley Cole, who was winning a record 87^th appearance, and was nominated captain after Lampard went off, was himself substituted by Leighton Baines towards the end, and this time Barry was given the armband.

Barry and Parker held Denmark with ease in the last phase of the game and Hart was rarely troubled again in the second half.  In contrast with the England attack, which looked dangerous every time they went forward.  Certainly Bent, Terry, Parker, Barry, substitute Gary Cahill, Young, Cole and Johnson, especially in the second half, can be delighted with their performances.  It was good to see England win again, and the players certainly looked as though they were enjoying themselves for a change.  It is no mean feat to win in Denmark, they don't lose too many home matches, and it would have been nice to see Capello smile during his after match interview, but I suppose, as England fans, we can't have everything!

Source Notes

BBC Sport
DBU.dk
TheFA.com
ITV.com/football
SkySports.com/football
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
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CG