Estonia

0-3

England

 

Cole 37, Crouch 54, Owen 62

Euro 2008 Qualifying Match, Group E
7.30pm, Wednesday 6 June 2007
A. Le Coq Arena,
Tallinn, Estonia
Live on Sky Sports



England’s prodigal sons were the stars of the show in Tallinn and, boy, are we pleased to see them back!

David Beckham, recalled for the first time in a competitive fixture since the World Cup, ran the show in Tallinn, setting up two goals in a 3-0 victory. But he wasn’t the only returning hero.

Michael Owen, who ruptured knee ligaments in Germany of course, scored his first goal for England since that woeful day in Cologne - and his 37th in total for his country.

On top of that Joe Cole put a season of injury frustration behind him to hit the opener in his first competitive international since Portugal last July.

Add in Wayne Bridge, who hadn’t played in anger for England since a World Cup qualifier against Poland in 2004, and it was a wonderful day for the comeback kings.

Even Peter Crouch, who scored our second in a 3-0 victory, made his point eloquently after being left out of the starting line-up agains Brazil last week.

It gave us all a glimpse of what this England team can do when everyone is fit - but don’t forget the likes of Ashley Cole, Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are all still waiting to return!

That is good news for Head Coach Steve McClaren who knows the Three Lions have five more qualifiers to come in Group E - with four of them at home.

And the real job is only just beginning.

He demanded patience and 100 per cent focus for this tricky match in Tallinn, and he certainly got it.

England went into the match fourth in the table and clearly under pressure to improve results, but they ended it on a high and with enthusiasm for the future.

Beckham was crucial to the outcome, providing a string of tremendous crosses coupled with an outstanding workrate.

An early free-kick that fizzed narrowly wide and a wicked cross which allowed Cole to set up Crouch for a shot on goal gave everyone inside the A.Le Coq Arena a glimpse of what he is still capable of.

He also came close to setting up a goal for Owen but could only stand back and admire Joe Cole’s opener - a stunning shot on the turn - that really set up the night for England.

Becks’ work wasn’t done, however. He still had time to send over an incredible cross for Crouch to head home and then whip over another for Owen to finish at the far post.

Teams

Estonia: 1 Mart Poom, 3 Andrei Stepanov,5 Dmitri Kruglov, 2 Enar Jaager, 6 Aleksandr Dmitrijev, 4 Ragnar Klavan, 10 Konstantin Vassiljev, 11 Sergei Terehhov (17 Tarmo Kink 64), 8 Joel Lindpere, 7 Oliver Konsa (18 Tarmo Neemelo 46), 9 Vladimir Voskoboinkov

Subs: 12 Artur Kotenko, 13 Alo Barengrub, 14 Urmas Rooba, 15 Liivo Leetma, 16 Gert Kams,

England: 1 Paul Robinson, 5 Ledley King, 6 John Terry (c), 2 Wes Brown, 3 Wayne Bridge, 4 Steven Gerrard, 7 David Beckham (15 Kieron Dyer 68), 8 Frank Lampard ,11 Joe Cole (16 Stewart Downing 76), 9 Peter Crouch,10 Michael Owen (14 Jermaine Jenas 88)

Subs Not Used: 13 Scott Carson,12 Jamie Carragher, 18 Jermain Defoe, 17 Alan Smith