England 5-0 Andorra
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
5pm, Saturday 2 September 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester United FC
Live on BBC
Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch both netted two goals as England cruised to victory in their opening European Championship qualifier over Andorra.
It proved a day to remember for new England coach Steve McClaren who celebrated his first competitive victory in style since taking over the managerial reins.
England may be missing influential forwards Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, but Crouch and Defoe are forging an excellent partnership in the England attack and are determined to steer the Three Lions towards the Euro 2008 finals.
There were also star performances from Owen Hargreaves and Steven Gerrard who is relishing his role on the right hand side of midfield and got among the goals with a spectacular strike in the first half.
As expected McClaren made two enforced changes from the side that beat Greece 4-0 in their last game. Wes Brown came in for the injured Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the England defence, while Phil Neville replaced his older brother Gary at right-back.
Defoe was given another chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the England attack and he didn’t disappoint with a memorable display at Old Trafford.
Crouch got England off to the perfect start after just five minutes. Defoe played the ball into the box and Ashley Cole picked out Crouch who made no mistake striking a left-foot shot into the corner of the net.
Crouch took his international tally to nine goals in just 13 appearances and is emerging as one of the central figures in the England side.
His strike partner Defoe could have got his name on the scoresheet after seven minutes when he was picked out in the penalty area by Stewart Downing.
The Tottenham forward took the ball down in superb fashion, but saw his close-range effort fall just wide of the post.
McClaren’s wish before the game was that his side would produce an impressive performance and give the England fans something to shout about.
And the Three Lions did not disappoint as they continued to mount pressure on the Andorra goal throughout the ninety minutes.
England added a second in spectacular fashion on 13 minutes. Cole’s deep cross into the box picked out Gerrard who chested the ball down and fired an unstoppable shot into the top left hand corner.
Owen Hargreaves was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet on 31 minutes. The Bayern Munich midfielder struck a curling free-kick from the edge of the box which came back off the post and the legs of Jesus Luis Alvarez in the Andorra goal.
Defoe finally got his just rewards on 38 minutes when he added a third for the Three Lions. Gerrard showed all his class when he burst pass Javier Sanchez down the right.
The Liverpool captain crossed in for Defoe who fired a left-foot volley into the roof of the net.
England were determined to build on their impressive first-half display and Defoe got in on the act once again on 47 minutes when he added his second of the game.
Neville’s header into the penalty box fell to the feet of Defoe who showed all his predatory instincts to fire the ball past Alvarez.
Defoe was desperately unlucky not to complete his hat-trick on 57 minutes when Cole’s cross across the box fell to the Tottenham marksman and his close-range shot produced an excellent save from the Andorra keeper.
Hargreaves was outstanding for England in the holding midfield role and almost scored his first goal for his country on 63 minutes when his 30-yard shot cannoned back off the post.
McClaren made a double substitution in an attempt to build on their healthy lead bringing on Kieran Richardson and Aaron Lennon midway through the second half.
And it paid dividends straight away when Crouch made it five on 66 minutes.
Lennon used his blistering pace to race past Jose Manuel Garcia before crossing in for Crouch who directed his header past Alvarez into the corner of the net.
Crouch could have made it six on 80 minutes when substitute Andy Johnson raced to the byeline and cut the ball back for the Liverpool striker, but he sliced his shot inches past the post.
England will now be hoping for more of the same when they travel to face Macedonia in their next game in Group E on Wednesday night.
England: Robinson, P Neville (Lennon 65), A Cole, Gerrard, Brown, Terry (c), Hargreaves, Lampard, Crouch, Defoe (Johnson 70), Downing (Richardson 65)
Subs not used: Dawson, Kirkland, Carrick, Bent
Andorra: Alvarez, Antoni Lima, Garcia Luena, Ayala, Sonejee, Javi Sanchez (Juli Sanchez 46), Sivera (Garcia 77), Vieira, Silva, Pujol (Jimenez 49), Ruiz.
Subs not used: Alfonso Sanchez, Moreno, Rubio, Fernandez.
Attendance: 56,290