England 4-0 Greece FT

87

Lennon's trickery wins a free-kick from which Richardson flashes a shot just wide of the far post.

85

Hargreaves, who looks full of running, sends Lennon clear but his cross is gobbled up by Nikopolidis in the Greek goal.

83

Kirkland makes an excellent save from Karagkounis, diving to his right to palm the ball wide.

80 Bridge comes on for Cole - England's fifth substitute.

79 Carragher and Bent replace Neville and Gerrard.

78

But the Greeks come back, winning corner number seven. Ferdinand, superb on the night, risest highest to head clear.

77

England respond with a good period of pressure, zipping the ball around nicely on the slick surface.

74

The visitors win yet another corner, their sixth, but the excellent Gerrard hooks clear.

71

Richardson makes a timely intervention but from the resulting corner, Amanatidis is only inches away from poking home from close range.

69 Lennon and Richardson replace Defoe and Downing.

67

Defoe, who has enjoyed a busy ten minutes, races clear only to be tackled on the edge of the box.

65 Greece make their fifth sub as Anatolakis comes on for Dellas.

64

Defoe almost gets a second crack at goal but is adjudged offside as he latched on to Lampard's pass.

61

Peter Crouch sends Defoe clear, but, like a golfer with a +28 handicap, the striker slices horribly wide for a throw-in.

60

Greece win two corners in succession - their positive substitutions are paying dividends.

58

Hargreaves is chasing his opponents like a terrier running after a terrified postman.

57

There are plenty of gaps opening up and both sides look intent on exploiting them.

54

A wonderful passage of play with Kirkland saving from Amanatidis and Cole clearing twice off the line to keep the Greeks at bay.

53

Greece, the reigning European Champions, are starting to show signs of improvements.

50

Great block by Terry, bravely diving in front of Basinas' well hit shot - the type of courage often seen by the skipper.

47

England have picked up the pace again, winning another corner through Downing's persistance.

Well here we go then - the second half live from Old Trafford.

46 Greece have made wholesale changes, bringing on Basinas, Salpingidis, Amanatidis and Krygiakos.

46 Chris Kirkland makes his international debut, making it a very profitable night for his father.

45

Phew! The referee blows for half-time giving the Old Trafford crowd time to catch their breath.

42 

GOAL! Four-some from England as the unmarked Crouch nods in Downing's pinpoint cross. Good work from Neville and Gerrard.

38

Crouch is just inches away from England's fourth after a wonderful move across the midfield.

36 

GOAL! It's 3-0 courtesy of Peter Crouch's tap-in after good work from Lampard and Downing.

32

England continue to pile forward, winning another corner which comes to nothing.

30

GOAL! England are 2-0 up thanks to Lampard's deflected shot which loops into the back of the net. It's his 12th for England.

29 Lagos comes on for Fyssas.

28 

England put together a slick move, sparked by Ferdinand's break from the back, but Crouch's poor header hands over possession.

26

Downing, quiet so far, shows his defensive qualities to prevent a Greek attack down the right flank.

25

The visitors enjoy their first concerted spell of possession, ruined by a woeful pass which goes out of play.

22 

Crouch wins England another corner, taken by Lampard, but the Greeks comfortably deal with the set-piece.

20

It's all England, the Three Lions keeping possession well, while Greece have little to show so far.

19

The Old Trafford crowd cheer a Crouch step-over - let's hope the fans will have more goals to celebrate tonight.

16 

Crouch should have doubled the lead when he headed just wide, but England have started well and deserve their lead.

14

GOAL! England are ahead thanks to the skipper who nods home after the Greek keeper made a hash of a Lampard free-kick.

13

England are dominating possession, highlighted by Rio Ferdinand marauding forward from defence to spring an attack.

12

Hargreaves, Lampard and Gerrard are linking well, with the Liverpool man drifting inside from the right touchline.

10 

Crouch takes a tumble ten yards from goal but the referee is not interested, waving play on.

8

Gerrard, who has been busy, aims an unthreatening daisycutter at the Greek goal which rolls wide.

6

England win the first corner of the evening but Downing's corner is easily dealt with by the visitors.

5 

Gerrard makes a break into the Greek box but the moves comes to nothing.

3

Steven Gerrard makes a good interception, but neither side have gained the upper hand during the early exchanges.

2

The rain has been teeming down in Manchester, giving the Old Trafford pitch a greasy feel.

England kick-off with Gary Neville and Peter Crouch linking early on the right.