England 0-0 Macedonia FT

England

0-0

Macedonia

90+2

Markus Merk blows the final whistle as England are unable to break down a resillient Macedonia and take just a point from this encounter.

90

With two extra minutes announced, Macedonia power down the right flank in search of what would be an incredible winner for the visitors.

89

Peter Crouch takes another sweeping pass from Steve Gerrard on his chest, before driving the ball into the ground towards goal but Nikolovski is equal to the shot and it goes out for a corner.

86

Jermain Defoe is involved in a powerful run before laying the ball off for Lampard and Neville on the right flank. It is Defoe who gets on the end of the cross but the ball is shepherded out by Sedloski.

84

Shaun Wright-Phillips produces a fantastic run to take the ball past three defenders and create the opening for Gerrard. The Liverpool skipper comes closest of anyone so far as his effort crashes off the bar.

81

Crouch takes down a long ball from King on his chest, he spins towards goal and fires a volley that is narrowly wide of Nikolovksi's far post.

80

Lampard exchanges passes with Crouch and Defoe before trying a long range effort that is off target.

77

Markus Merk brings the game to a stop to allow Stojkov treatment, before getting the game underway again.

75

Ledley King wins a strong challenge to halt Stojkov in his tracks but it gets heated as Macedonia feel that England should put the ball out of play.

74 Jermain Defoe on his 24th Birthday replaces Wayne Rooney

70 Shaun Wright-Phillips comes on for Stewart Downing

68

Lampard gets the ball to Gerrard whose early cross is just nicked off the head of Peter Crouch.

67

Michael Carrick finds Peter Crouch in space on the righ flank but he gives the ball straight to Maznov. Mitreski then finds himself in a dangerous position in the box but Ashley Cole is there to deny him.

65

Ledley King steals the ball from Stojkov, and sets England on the break. Wayne Rooney finds himself on the end of a long pass, but Nikolovski is equal to the shot and England win the corner.

64

Ashley Cole finds time and space to deliver a deep cross towards Peter Crouch and although the prolific marksmen gets on the end of the ball he is unable to get enough power on it.

62

Rooney chases down a back-passed header to Nikolovski showing his determination to work hard and make things happen for England.

61

Peter Crouch is nudged over and the referee awards England the free-kick. Wayne Rooney passes it to Lampard who in turn lays it off to Gerrard, but his shot is off target

58

England almost take the lead, a fine cross from Downing creates the opening for Crouch whose header is saved, before Gary Neville fires the ball onto the cross bar from close range.

57

Peter Crouch tries a spectacular bicycle kick akin to the goal he scored for Liverpool recently but he is unable to connect with the ball.

55

Stojkov shows an incredible turn of pace to speed past Ledley King, but Paul Robinson makes a fine save at his near post to deny the substitute a dramatic introduction into the game.

54

Aleksandr Mitreski comes mighty close to giving Macedonia the advantage as he steals in front of Terry to power his header just over the bar.

53

The crowd sense that England need their support and start to cheer them on more vociferously, willing them into action.

52

Macedonia look to continue their aggresive play as they take the ball further into the England half, but the defence stand firm and deny any easy openings. Pandev is certainly one to watch though.

50

Peter Crouch wins a knock down and Steven Gerrard tries an ambitious volley that fails to trouble Nikolovski.

49

Macedonia strike the free-kick powerfully but John Terry rushes out to block expertly and Ledley King clears up any resulting danger to England.

48' Steven Gerrard is booked and therefore misses the game with Croatia on Wednesday as a result.

47' Robert Petrov is booked for a foul on Michael Carrick.

46

No changes from the interval as both sides return to the action looking to break the deadlock.

45 Macedonia bring on Stojkov Naumoski.

Well here we go then - the second half from Old Trafford with England looking to take the iniative in front of a record home crowd away from Wembley - 72,062.

45

The Referee calls time on the first half of a game which is yet to see a goal, but one in which Macedonia will be very pleased with.

44 

Macedonia win the free-kick which is punched expertly away from Paul Robinson, reaching the ball just before the head of Sumolikoski.

42

It's becoming end-to-end stuff at the close of the half as both sides look for a crucial advantage going into the interval. Maznov and Pandev in particular are enjoying a lot of space as a result.

41 

Lampard creates a half chance as he turns Sedloski but Nikolovski rushes out of his goal speedily and denies the Chelsea midfielder.

40

Naumoski does fantastically well to power past Gerrard, but fortunately for England there is no support at all in the area from his teammates.

39 

Macedonia win another corner, but it comes to nothing as Peter Crouch is tugged off the ball by Mitreski.

37

Gary Neville gives away the free-kick in a dangerous area, but with a poor delivery Robinson finds Ashley Cole to launch a quick counter attack. Unfortunately for the Three Lions he is the only player forward and the attack goes awry.

36

This time Lazarevski finds a good deep cross that sails over Gary Neville and onto the foot of Petrov who connects perfectly, but fortunately his volley is directed off target.

34

Pandev finds Sumolikoski down the left flank, and the attack is not snuffed out by the England defence. Lucky for the Three Lions it is a poor cross from Lazarevski that goes straight out for a goal kick.

32

Gary Neville finds himself in the right place to deny Naumoski in the area, before Ashley Cole sets Gerrard away on the left flank. Gerrard cuts in on his right foot, but his inswinging cross is too close to the keeper.

31

Macedonia are looking very comfortable on the ball in all areas of the pitch. Gerrard nicks the ball away from Mitreski and finds himself free on the left, but his cross is too long for either Rooney or Crouch in the box.

29

Gerrard exchanges a delightful quick one-two with Rooney that nearly opens the visitors up, but just at the vital moment Sedloski intervenes to deny a shooting chance.

27

Gary Neville almost finds Rooney clean through on goal, but Sedloski does extremely well to snatch the ball from the Manchester United man's feet.

25

Peter Crouch gets up high to clear a Macedonian corner before Mitreski fires in a stinging volley that has power but lacks accuracy.

24

Carrick seeks out Gerrard who has pushed right up front and the Liverpool skipper in turn tries to find Rooney in the penalty area but his cross is cut out.

23

Downing drives at Naumoski before firing a right-footed cross towards Peter Crouch, the tall striker leaps high but Nikolovski is equal to the ball and clutches it comfortably.

22

Crouch is fouled as England look to make a quick counter, but the interruption allows Macedonia to retreat and deny Steve McClaren's men any space.

20

Going into the game England had not conceded in 480 minutes, so as the 20 minute mark passes the Three Lions push through the 500 minute clean sheet mark.

18

England are yet to really stretch the Macedonian defence, and the side in red have yet to look in any danger at all.

17 

Neville cuts out a diagonal ball towards Petrov and England are back in posession again.

16 

Rooney concedes the free-kick in trying to win back posession for the Three Lions, and as a result Naumoski requires treatment on his thigh.

15

Michael Carrick releases Gary Neville on the overlap on the right flank, but his cross his cut out by Petrov on the penalty spot.

13

Although Macedonia are looking to get forward more than was predicted, they are not abandoning their defensive duties and by getting numbers behind the ball they are limiting the openings that England can create.

11

Pandev almost breaks the deadlock for the visitors, racing past Gary Neville the forward causes difficulty to Ledley King before firing the ball with his left foot into the side netting.

10 

Rooney tries an ambitious through pass looking to find his strike partner Peter Crouch but Nikolovski cuts out the delivery.

9

Downing tracks back well to disposess Lazarevski and win back posession for the Three Lions, releasing the ball to Ledley King who brings it out of defence well.

8

Gary Neville makes a great burst forward to win the ball and finds Gerrard free on the right, his cross almost presents an opportunity to Rooney in front of goal.

7

Maznov and Pandev show that the away team did not come here to sit back and look for a 0-0, with attack certainly in the thoughts of the team in red.

5

After winning the corner the Three Lions have an eventful period with a number of crosses from Stewart Downing creating havoc for Nikolovski in the Macedonian goal.

4

It's Rooney again who is causing the problems, this time he turns past the full back and fires a dangerous ball towards Peter Crouch - although the Liverpool striker is unable to get any power on the header.

3

Rooney traps a long pass from Ledley King perfectly and glides past two Macedonian defenders to set England off on the attack.

2

Carrick is penalised for a lat challenge and Macedonia send the free-kick long towards Maznov. Gary Neville deals with Petrov down the left hand side as the visitors enjoy a spell of possesion.