Trinidad & Tobago

0-3

England

 

 

Gareth Barry 12, Jermain Defoe 15, 49

International Friendly
10.30pm (5.30pm local time), Sunday 1 June 2008
Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain
Live on BBC1

Steven Gerrard believes England are heading in the right direction under Fabio Capello, after the team cruised to victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday night.

The win was the second in five days for England, who have now won three of the four games since Capello took charge, and have only conceded two goals.

With one friendly match remaining before the qualifying for the 2010 World Cup begins against Andorra on 6 September, Gerrard says England are becoming a better team with each game. 

"We need to get used to the manager's ideas and what he wants - but the right steps are going to happen," said Gerrard. "What we need to do, step by step, is build ourselves up to being a better team.

"Training has been intense at times during this spell together with some double sessions.

"The lads are learning how the manager wants us to play, how he wants the team set up, different formations and tactics, and he is also telling people individually what he expects from them.

"It is not going to happen overnight but we are moving in the right direction. If we are going to achieve things, it is as a team and not as individuals."

England were comfortable winners in Port of Spain, as Gareth Barry's first goal for the Three Lions gave them a perfect start after just 12 minutes.

Jermain Defoe made it 2-0 three minutes later, and from then on England were in control of the match and were never really troubled.

Defoe added his second early in the second half to complete the scoring and end the season on a high for England.

Gerrard added: "I am sure bigger tests are to come but it is important to put the foundations down before you become a better team. Everyone wants to be part of Capello's plans so that is healthy. But I think there are signs of improvement there.

"The important thing is we peak in September for the World Cup qualifiers. We all know when the important games are but it is important to start getting it right before we go into those games."

The Teams

Trinidad and Tobago
1 Clayton Ince, 2 Kern Cupid (5 Osei Telesford, 46), 3 Ancil Farrier, 4 Makan Hislop, 6 Dennis Lawrence, 7 Carlos Edwards, 8 Khaleem Hyland (19 Dwight Yorke 76), 9 Aurtis Whitley (c), 14 Stern John (24 Jerrol Forbes, 74), 17 Kenwyne Jones (10 Darryl Roberts, 11 (13 Kareem Smith, 46)), 18 Keon Daniel (12 Kevaughhn Connell, 76)
Substitutes 11 Hayden Tinto, 15 Akeem Adams, 16 Anton Pierre, 21 Jan Michael Williams, 25 Keyeno Thomas, 26 Jamal Gay

England
1 David James (12 Joe Hart, 46), 2 Glen Johnson, 3 Wayne Bridge (13 Stephen Warnock, 84), 4 Gareth Barry, 5 Rio Ferdinand (15 Phil Jagielka 46), 6 Jonathan Woodgate, 7 David Beckham (c) (16 David Bentley, 46), 8 Stewart Downing (17 Ashley Young 58), 9 Dean Ashton (19 Peter Crouch, 46), 10 Steven Gerrard, 11 Jermain Defoe (20 Theo Walcott, 69)
Substitutes 14 David Wheater, 18 Tom Huddlestone, 21 Gabriel Agbonlahor, 22 Joe Lewis

Officials
Referee Enrico Wijngaarde (Surinam)
Assistant referees Ramon Lousiville (Surinam) and Dion Inniss (Guyana)
Fourth Official Geoffrey Hospedales (Trinidad and Tobago)