Saturday 29 May 2010

England 3 Mexico 1

Match 64/09/816 - Monday, 24th May 2010 - International

England (2) 3 King 17, Crouch 34, Johnson 47
Mexico (1) 1 Franco 45
Att. 88,638

Entrance: £25
Programme: £6
Mileage: 100/7,635

Match Report

The Wembley crowd gave England’s World Cup-bound team a rousing send off bedecked in their new white and red tee-shirts that the FA had supplied to form huge Cross of St George images on all four sides of the stadium. A friendly win against a talented Mexico followed, but the general feeling walking back down Wembley Way was one of more questions than answers.

The probable winners on the night were the rested Chelsea players sat in the stand whose reputation was enhanced by some disappointing performances by their understudies. England, as a nation, has been rolling out the prayer mat with every passing match praying that Wayne Rooney remains fit. For the coming six weeks when the said prayers are being offered, Ashley Cole should be afforded a mention if the nightmare performance of Leighton Baines is anything to go by.

The absence of John Terry was highlighted by the less than assured coupling of Ledley King and Rio Ferdinand, although much of blame for their discomfort should be laid at the door of Michael Carrick, and to a lesser extent, James Milner who offered them little or no protection. Milner did, at least, improve when he was switched to a wider berth, allowing Steven Gerrard a central position.

Robert Green, with two fine one-on-one saves in the first half, Joe Hart, with a competent second half, eased concerns about the goalkeeping department and Gerrard enjoyed one of his better England performances to highlight the positives.

A stunning goal from Glen Johnson immediately after half time emphasised the full back’s ability going forward, but doubts remain about his defensive capability.

On a warm early summer evening, the Mexicans gave the makeshift home defence early scares before England took an undeserved lead on 17 minutes. A Steven Gerrard corner to the far post was headed back across the face of the goal by Peter Crouch for Ledley King to steer a header past the diminutive Mexican keeper.

The visitors refused to be set back by their deficit and Green needed to produce the first of his one-on-one victories to deny Arsenal’s Carlos Vela. By this time, Giovani Dos Santos, not exactly a regular at Tottenham, had served notice on Baines of the torrid evening he was to endure.

The Mexicans suffered further disappointment when a curled shot hit the post before Crouch increased England’s lead in the 34th minute. Another corner from Gerrard from the left saw Rooney’s header pushed onto the bar by goalkeeper Oscar Perez, only for it to bounce down into the path of Crouch who deflected it into the net from a matter of inches.

Mexico finally got a reward for their efforts with a goal just before the interval. From a right sided corner Marquez saw his goal-bound header blocked on the line by Baines whose headed clearance only fell to West Ham’s Franco, who scored from a couple of yards. The sizeable Mexican contingent who were the full length of Wembley from the incident suffered a delayed reaction before they realized that their team had scored.

England re-established their two goal advantage after just two minutes of the second half with quality goal. Theo Walcott flicked the ball to Johnson, who cut inside two men and waltzed past a further two challenges en route to the penalty area, before curling a fine shot with his left foot past Perez and into the top corner.


Mexico continued to be a danger, but England, with Jamie Carragher making his return from international retirement as a half-time substitute for Ferdinand and Joe Hart taking over in goal from Robert Green, had a more comfortable second half.

England returned to their Austrian base for an encounter against Japan in Graz on Sunday before Fabio breaks the hearts of seven players that will not make the trip to South Africa. This was an unconvincing performance that can be chalked up as good preparation and safe with the knowledge that many of the unanswered questions should be resolved by the players absent on the night.


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