England Vs Israel
European Championship Qualifier
England Vs Israel
Venue - Wembley Stadium Kick off 5.00 pm
With a tough game against Russia on the horizon, and after their dissapointing 0-0 draw in Israel, England needed to get a good result against the same opponenets this afternoon. Steve McLaren surprised a few people by bringing back Emille Heskey, for Israel this was always going to be a tough afternoon and they were looking to the experience of Yossi Benayoun of Liverpool to put the type of performance in that would give them a shout.
England began reasonably well and created the first chance of the game, a direct ball down the middle allowed Michael owen to knock the ball down perfectly for Heskey who blasted the ball over the bar.
From then on Israel began to look comfortable for the enxt fifteen minutes with threatening. That was until the two wingers combined, Joe Cole lofted a fine cross leaving the Israeli defense floundering and Shaun Wright Phillips struck a sweet volley home to give England the lead.
GOAL - 20 Minutes - Shaun Wright Phillips - England 1 Israel 0
It was down the flanks the England continued to get success. Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole, Micah Richards and Garath barry all put in excellent performances in the first half. Owen and Heskey up front however were wasteful, Owen had two chances from close range and failed to cpitalise, the first being save, the secon lashed over the bar. Heskey got onto a corner only to head wide. All Englands good work as a result came to nothing. The keeper also made a good save from Ashley Cole.
Israel offered little going forward, trying to get men behind the ball and only using a couple of men at any time to try and break. They did put some passes together in the last 10 minutes of the half however, and caused John Terry and Rio Ferdinand some problems, Micah Richards however was usually on hand to mop up however, and the goalkeeper Paul Robinson did not have a save to make in the first half.
Shortly in the second half England made it two. A smart passing move lead to michael Owen getting the ball on the edge of the box and he neatly turned and with a lovely strike doubled England's lead. After his wasteful efforts of the first half the goal eased the pressure on him, and on England as from here victory was secure.
GOAL - 49 Minites - Michael Owen - England 2 Israel 0
The game from this point went into a bit of a lull with little happening. Israel looked like a beaten side, England were crusing without being particularly special. On 66 minutes Micah Richards capped a fine performance by adding a third with a towering header from a corner. Israle believed Owne had tripped the keeper and the replays certainly looked that way, but Richards deserved his goal and the referee saw nothing wrong giving England their third.
GOAL - 66 Minutes - Micah Richards - England 3 Israel 0
The rest was a formality as the game petered out. A Mexican wave and people leaving early demonstrated how dull the game became from this point. Little else happened until the last minute when substitue Andy johnson won the ball and placed a delightful pass into Owen's path, Owen rounded the keeper and though he had scored only for the Israeli defnder Ziv to slided and clear off the line. Witht hat the game ended, a fourth goal would have flattered Englnad, and while they were comfortably better than a poor Israel, Russia will still fnacy their chances as there is not much inspirational about what we saw today, England did enough, but no more.
RESULT
England (1) 3 (Wright-Phillips, Owen, Richards)
Israel (0) 0
MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN - Micah Richards (England) - A Powerhouse performance at the back giving Israel no encouragement at times when other defenders around him looked a bit shaky, got forward plenty to, and an excellent goal.
