England (1) 2 Jenas 40 Wright-Phillips 62
Switzerland (0) 1 Derdiyok 58
Att. 86,857
Entrance: £30
Programme: £6
Mileage: 100/4,226
Match Report
It was hardly Fabiolous, but the Capello era got off to a winning starting in a stuttering display against a very average Swiss side.A poor beginning proved to much for a unforgiving Wembley crowd who, after 25 minutes of misplaced passes and very little forward drive, began to turn on this new look England side. Though it had been thoroughly frustrating it was pretty unfair that they should be getting on the backs of a team showing nine changes from that fateful night against Croatia. Choruses of One David Beckham could be heard and by the end of the match it is a credit to David Bentley that he rose above this to produce one of the better performances on the night.
A goal just before half-time, well-crafted by Joe Cole and touched home by Jermaine Jenas stifled what might have been the loudest derision of the night on the 45 minute whistle. Whether Capello speaks Italian or English during his half time talk he got a positive response in the second half. Despite conceding an equaliser to a very good strike from the Swiss substitute Derdiyok on 58 minutes, England bounced back to win the game with a tap in from Wright-Phillips after good work from Gerrard and Rooney.
Most people would have gone happy with a few reservations. Mr Capello, I’m sure, would have noticed that suddenly we are devoid of full backs. Micah Richards' omission was a surprise and his deputy Wes Brown had an awful first half-hour, did improve, but is really not an international footballer. On the other flank, Ashley Cole looked out of salts and his replacement, Wayne Bridge, did nothing to erase the memory of his dreadful performance against Croatia.
Midfield was satisfactory, though Gareth Barry had probably his least effective game in an England shirt. Gerrard, given man of the match (not by me, I hasten to add), looked better on a TV second viewing, Jenas gave an England performance that I did not think him capable of and Joe Cole was just about everybody’s man of the match. I wish Cole would stay on his feet more, if only to stop Ann moaning about it every match.
Up front, Mr Capello please learn something that we have all known for some while, Wayne Rooney cannot play the lone striker, it just doesn’t work, we have been here before and take our word for it. You have had the experiment, but put that one in the bin never to resurface. Once Crouch was on the field, the real Rooney came alive and as always was worth the entrance money alone.
So it wasn’t a great night but Capello now has a platform from which to develop a side that I fear might not excite, but if they are winners perhaps we might get a atmosphere at Wembley deserving of the structure. For all its grandeur the only fans to have delivered have been the Croatians, who revelled in their victory.
Before the game a "moment" of silence was observed for the victims of the Munich air disaster. The moment lasted all of 27 seconds as a few catcalls was enough for the referee to call a halt, obviously on the instructions of the FA to save any embarrassment.
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