Rafael's masterpiece

Wayne Rooney’s first England goal for just over a year earned England a draw against Holland in Amsterdam.

Rooney’s inventive volleyed finish from a Joe Cole cross looked as though it would give Steve McClaren’s men a hugely impressive victory until Rafael van der Vaart scored a late equaliser for the hosts.

It was a cruel blow for England who would have drawn great confidence from a win here but they can certainly still take credit from their performance.

After the recent results against Macedonia and Croatia there was a massive determination within the England camp to bounce back in this, the last international of the year.

Head Coach Steve McClaren had sent his troops into battle with a warning that 'there is no such thing as an England friendly', while Captain John Terry had described the match as 'massive' for his team.

The prospect of Micah Richards facing up to the skill and speed of Arjen Robben on his debut was an enticing and potentially daunting one.

But Richards showed why he has captured the imagination of Premiership and Under-21 audiences this season with an all-action display of strength, skill and pace.

Gary Neville may be one of the best right backs in world football but it is at the very least comforting to see someone of Richards’ talent coming through the ranks at such speed.

Richards was called into defensive action early on when his headed clearance at the far post on ten minutes saved a certain Robben goal. However, in a battle which continued throughout the game, the winger immediately hit back by beating the Man City man to crack in a rasping effort that Paul Robinson did well to save.

Although many where interested to see how the combination of Rooney and Andrew Johnson came together in attack, it was perhaps the return of Joe Cole that will have been most pleasing for McClaren on the night.

Perhaps England missed Cole more than they knew in the early games of this season.

He simply carried on where he left off at the World Cup; his invention and intelligence often instigated England's most dangerous attacks. His reverse chip to Lampard in the 22nd minute and deep cross for Rooney six minutes later both might have seen England open their account.

But it was when Cole switched to the right and bent in a wicked cross to the far post in the 36th minute that England finally took the lead with Rooney's first England goal for his country since that goal-laden night against Argentina in Geneva last November. Rooney wheeled away to celebrate. The England fans sang. For a while, all was once again well with the world.

Then former Ajax player van der Vaart spoiled the mood by drilling home with only two minutes to go. It all came from a long throw. Chelsea's Robben took it from the left and, with England unable to clear, the ball fell for van der Vaart to drill home low from ten yards.

In truth England could still have won the game in the last five minutes.

First Rooney and Gerrard combined intricately on the edge of the box to put the Liverpool man through but he saw his shot saved well by Henk Timmer. Then Rooney twisted and turned his way to the byline but a clutch of England strikers were unable to turn his centre home.

With Croatia and Russia both winning in Group E games on the night, England won’t need reminding that some very stiff challenges lie ahead on the road to Austria and Switzerland but a draw in Holland is by no means a bad way to get back on track.

Holland
1 Henk Timmer (16 Maarten Stekelenburg 46), 2 Khalid Boulahrouz (12 Kew Jaliens 61), 4 Joris Mathijsen, 5 Urby Emanuelson, 3 Andre Ooijer (c) (19 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink 84), 7 Rafael van der Vaart, 8 Denny Landzaat, 6 Stijn Schaars, 10 Clarence Seedorf, 9 Dirk Kuyt (18 Klaas Jan Huntelaar 61), 11 Arjen Robben
Subs not used: 13 Tim de Cler, 14 David Mendes da Silva, 15 Evander Sno, 17 Hedwiges Maduro, 20 Johnny Heitinga

England
1 Paul Robinson, 2 Micah Richards, 3 Ashley Cole, 4 Steven Gerrard, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 6 John Terry (c), 7 Michael Carrick, 8 Frank Lampard, 9 Wayne Rooney, 10 Andy Johnson (19 Shaun Wright-Phillips 74), 11 Joe Cole (17 Kieran Richardson, 78)
Subs not used: 13 Ben Foster, 14 Wes Brown, 15 Jamie Carragher, 12 Wayne Bridge, 16 Michael Dawson, 18 Phil Neville, 20 Jermain Defoe, 21 Peter Crouch

Attendance:

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Assistants: Marian Ruzbarsky and Vlastislav Laskovsky (Slovakia)
Fourth Official: Pavel Olsiak (Slovakia)

Team Colours
Holland: Orange shirts, White shorts, Blue socks
England: White shirts, Blue shorts, White socks