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England have lift-off with Danny Welbeck’s double against Switzerland England have lift-off with Danny Welbeck’s double against Switzerland
(about 1 hour later)
The only disappointment for Roy Hodgson, perhaps, is that England could not conjure up this kind of football more often during the World Cup. They have got their European Championship qualifying programme off to a flying start and they did so in a manner that should go a long way to easing some of the negativity that had been threatening to engulf Hodgson’s side. The only disappointment for Roy Hodgson, perhaps, is that England could not conjure up this kind of football more often during the World Cup. They have got their European Championship qualifying programme off to a flying start and they did so in a manner that should go a long way to easing some of the negativity that had been threatening to engulf Hodgson’s side.
What a pity for Hodgson that his team could not play with this distinction against, say, Uruguay in São Paulo three months ago. Switzerland occupy ninth position in Fifa’s world rankings but England made that feel like a mistake in the system and created enough chances to feel they probably ought to have won with even more to spare than merely Danny Welbeck’s second-half goals. What a pity for Hodgson that his team could not play with this distinction against, say, Uruguay in São Paulo three months ago. Switzerland occupy ninth position in Fifa’s world rankings but England made that feel like a glitch in the system and created so many chances they probably ought to have won with something more to spare than merely Danny Welbeck’s second-half goals.
They were not flawless and it needed a superb piece of defending from Gary Cahill to deny Haris Seferovic an equaliser but it was certainly one of the better performances of the Hodgson era and from here, the level of opposition in Group E is so undistinguished it would need an extraordinary kind of meltdown now for England not to reach the tournament in France. This is what happens when Hodgson abandons the plodding 4-4-2 system: England immediately look better and modernised. The midfield diamond, with Raheem Sterling at its front tip, was instrumental in making this one of the better performances of the Hodgson era and the level of opposition in Group E is so undistinguished it would need an extraordinary kind of meltdown now for England not to reach the tournament.
They have, without any exaggeration, pretty much ensured they will qualify.England’s next assignments, to put it into context, come against San Marino and Estonia in October. The trip to Basel should, in theory, be as tough as it gets and perhaps it was that layer of insurance that meant Hodgson’s team could approach this match without feeling too suffocated by the pressures. England’s next assignments, to put it into context, come against San Marino and Estonia in October. The trip to Basel should, in theory, be as tough as it gets and perhaps that layer of insurance helped to ensure Hodgson’s team could play without feeling too suffocated by external pressures.
For long spells they played with a confidence and fluency that had seldom been evident in the friendly against Norway last week. For long spells they passed the ball with a confidence and fluency that had seldom been evident in the friendly against Norway last week. They were not flawless and it needed a superb piece of defending, at 1-0, for Gary Cahill to deny Haris Seferovic an equaliser. Yet England were not just the better side in flurries. They dominated large passages and always had the speed of movement in attack to trouble a side that had not lost any of their previous nine home games.
Hodgson had abandoned his plodding 4-4-2 system and changed to a midfield diamond with Raheem Sterling at the forward tip, Jack Wilshere in front of defence and Jordan Henderson and Fabien Delph operating on the inside channels. Sterling’s ability to run with the ball, menacing his opponents, was a prominent feature. Wayne Rooney put in a much improved performance and Welbeck can think of this as the finest moment in his international career.
Immediately, England looked like a better, modernised side, breaking with speed and creating enough scoring opportunities that Hodgson must have been exasperated that his side did not lead by half-time. Welbeck really ought to have helped England take a first-half lead, when he instigated a three-on-one attack but chose not to shoot and misjudged his pass for Sterling. He looked raw in those moments but he quickly shook his head clear and took his goals well.
Wayne Rooney was denied twice by Yann Sommer during that period and what a shame, perhaps, that the England striker is no longer quite the player of old. The first came 13 minutes into the second half and the speed of England’s counter-attack, after Gökhan Inler had lost the ball in the centre-circle, was breathtaking. Rooney led the movement, surging forward against a defence that had suddenly been exposed. Sterling was on his left and Welbeck was running to the far post, anticipating what was coming. It was a blur of quick, first-time passing, from Rooney to Sterling and then across the six-yard area, with brilliant accuracy, for Welbeck to fire in.
Another early chance was asking to be struck on the volley and the younger Rooney would surely just have taken aim. Instead, he tried to take the ball down, trying to shape a more conventional finish, and the opportunity was lost. By that stage, Hodgson was entitled to be exasperated to have been kept waiting so long. Rooney was denied twice by Yann Sommer during the first half and Hodgson could also reflect on an outstanding save from Switzerland’s goalkeeper to palm away Phil Jones’s header from a corner.
Hodgson could also reflect on an outstanding save from Sommer to palm away Phil Jones’s header from a corner and an earlier chance that showed both the good and bad of Welbeck, beating his nearest opponent on the right wing, then haring into the penalty area with the choice to let fly or pick out Rooney and Sterling in a three-on-one break. Welbeck went for Sterling, misjudged the pass and that moment encapsulated so much about Arsenal’s talented, yet raw, new signing. There were still imperfections. At one point Jones went from intercepting the ball to presenting it straight to Xherdan Shaqiri, Switzerland’s most dangerous player, and was fortunate that Seferovic’s shot came back off Joe Hart’s right foot.
England were playing with composure, with Sterling’s ability to worry opponents a prominent feature, but there were still imperfections. Then there was Fabian Delph flying into tackles in a manner that must have left England’s management contemplating whether to withdraw him at half-time rather than risk him any longer. Delph was booked after nine minutes for a reckless lunge at Stephan Lichtsteiner and that would have been a red card if the Turkish referee, Cuneyt Cakir, had not been so lenient when the Aston Villa player scythed down Valon Behrami three minutes earlier. Delph might be inexperienced at this level but, at 24, he should have known better than to be this impetuous. He did, however, cool down and that showed an understanding, albeit belatedly, he was in danger of marking his first England start in the worst possible fashion.
Jones went from intercepting the ball in one defensive moment to presenting it straight to Xherdan Shaqiri, Switzerland’s most dangerous player, and was fortunate that Seferovic’s shot came back off Joe Hart’s right foot in the ensuing attack. Those moments were incongruous with the control that England were showing elsewhere on the pitch. Jack Wilshere might not have the mobility of the classic defensive midfielder but he did reasonably well in a newish role. Jordan Henderson increasingly looks comfortable in midfield and England continued to be dangerous on the counter-attack.
Then there was Delph flying into tackles in a manner that must have left England’s management contemplating whether to withdraw him at half-time rather than risk him any longer. Switzerland did start to exert more pressure in the closing stages, when Jones had to go off with a hamstring injury, and it was a marvellous block from Cahill after Seferovic had broken England’s defensive line, taken the ball to the outside of the oncoming Hart and fired in a goalbound shot. Equally, England should have had a penalty eight minutes from the end of normal time when Johan Djourou went flying into Delph.
Delph was booked after nine minutes for a reckless lunge at Stephan Lichsteiner and that would have been a red card if the Turkish referee, Cuneyt Cakir, had not been so lenient for scything down Valon Behrami three minutes earlier. Delph might be inexperienced at this level but, at 24, he should have had more sense than to be this impetuous. Rooney and Welbeck were both looking sharp and Hodgson’s decision to free up Sterling in the middle had paid off. In stoppage time, Sterling had the ball at his feet again and England’s opponents were short of numbers at the back. Sterling fed the substitute Rickie Lambert and Welbeck was waiting for the ball on the left, taking a touch to steady himself before picking his spot.
He looked liked a red card waiting to happen and one might easily have followed after another mistimed dive later in the first half. He was fortunate Behrami moved out of the way and his body language, looking up to the skies and blowing out his cheeks, suggested he knew as much.
Those moments were incongruous with the control that England were showing elsewhere on the pitch and it was a splendid goal that gave them the lead.
The speed of their counter-attack, after Gökhan Inler had lost the ball in the centre-circle, was breathtaking. Rooney led the movement, surging forward against a defence that had suddenly been left badly exposed. Sterling was on his left and Welbeck was running to the far post, anticipating what was coming. It was a blur of quick, first-time passing, from Rooney to Sterling and then across the six-yard area for Welbeck to finish.
Switzerland did start to exert more pressure in the closing stages, when Jones had to go off with an injury, and it was a marvellous block from Cahill after Seferovic had broken the offside line and gone around Hart.
Yet England still looked dangerous on the counter-attack and really ought to have had a penalty eight minutes from the end of normal time when Johan Djourou went flying into Delph.
Rooney and Welbeck were both looking sharp and Hodgson’s decision to free up the elusive, menacing Sterling had paid off, culminating in the second goal.
The 19-year-old Sterling linked up with the substitute Rickie Lambert and Welbeck managed to pick his spot.