Wright result as England qualify

England 1-0 Switzerland

UEFA European Under-19 Championships
Second Qualifying Stage, Group 4
O2 Park, Drogheda
Friday 23rd May 2003

A one-nil win over Switzerland in Drogheda secured England's place in the UEFA U19s Championship Finals, Leicester City's Tommy Wright with the decisive goal booking the Three Lions place in Liechtenstein this August

England's young lions came into this final match of the tournament already assured of their place in the UEFA U19 European Championship Finals in Liechtenstein in July, but thoughts of the Finals did not detract from the job in hand. England wanted to come out of this tournament with the full 9 points and 3 clean sheets.

Switzerland, having lost their first two games, were equally determined for a result not wanting to go back to Switzerland without having gained a single point.

From the start it was clear that it would not be a game of flowing football with both teams prepared to battle hard for possession and not give each other the space to play the football that both are capable of.

It was England though who got the breakthrough on 21 minutes when Stewart Downing's corner to the near post reached the head of Tommy Wright who made no mistake in putting the ball in the back of the net and giving England the lead they wanted.

The goal seemed to spur on the Swiss team with Lee Camp having to make a fine save from Vonlanthen who had clear sight of goal. Camp came off his line, held his nerve and blocked the shot at the feet of the fast approaching no 11.

Minutes later Switzerland earned a corner which led to the booking of substitute Jerome Watt! Watt, warming up on the touchline stepped briefly onto the pitch to pass the ball to the Swiss team for the corner and the referee showed him a yellow card, swiftly followed by a booking for the England Exercise Scientist conducting the warm up, as he protested the decision!

Things began to go Switzerland's way and when they pushed forward getting the ball deep into the England penalty box, Mills pushed Gasche off the ball and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Marga stepped up for the penalty but the keeper kept his nerve and as the Swiss striker stepped up and cleanly struck the ball, Lee Camp stretched and tipped the ball past the right post with what was undoubtably a very fine save.

This boyed on the lions and as England started to gain momentum, the tournament's top scorer Ciaran Donnelly was unlucky not to hit the target with a 30 yard shot. Switzerland had far more chances in the first half than England would have liked but some fine keeping from Camp allowed England to go in for the break with a slim but important 1-0 lead.

Head Coach Stuart Baxter made one change at half time bringing on Jerome Watt for Wayne Routledge giving the Crystal Palace striker the rest he need after two impressive performances in the first games of the tournament. England started the second half slowly with the Swiss pushing deep in their half. Lee Camp again had to make an impressive save to ensure the Swiss didn't equalise early on.

With only 15 minutes of the second half gone a horrific tackle on Jerome Watt left him in lying on the pitch in agony with the 4th official refusing to let him been seen by the England medical staff. The delay in allowing the Physio onto the field of play forced him to push his way onto the pitch in order to treat Jerome and he became the second member of staff to be booked by a referee who seemed intent on carding the entire England bench! Jerome was eventually treated and it was a relief to learn that no serious damage was done and he was taken off to be replaced by Peter Whittingham.

England made their final substitution on 72 minutes with Ryan Taylor coming on in place of Justin Hoyte who had a solid game at the back. A great spell of pressure towards the end of the match could have given England a second goal with two shots from Whittingham being scrambled out of danger by the swiss defence and a Tommy Wright shot cleared off the line.

It was the Swiss however who had the last gasp chance with a powerful shot from Dugic hitting the bar in the final minutes. This scrappy game was certainly not the prettiest to watch with both teams battling hard and not allowing the play to flow. Englands defence held its own once again but the plaudits are reserved for England keeper Camp whose handling of the ball was first class throughout the game and whose Penalty save ensured a third clean sheet.

The Swiss may well go home disappointed not to get something out of the game but for England it was the end of an extremely successful qualifying tournament which resulted in 3 wins, 3 clean sheets and 9 points.

by Carol Day in Dublin

Teams

England: Luke Steele, Justin Hoyte, Peter Whittingham, John Welsh, Andrew Davies, Liam Ridgewell, Wayne Routledge, Ciaran Donnelly, Tommy Wright, Lee Croft, Stuart Downing
Subs: Lee Camp, Pablo Mills, Watt, Steven Schumacher, Marcel McKie, Taylor, Dorryll Proffitt

Goals: Wright 21

Switzerland: Leoni, Marguairaz, Haid, Bühler, Getaz, Gasche, Tsimba, Clemente, Vonlanthen, König, Righetti
Sub: Dugic, Marazzi, Antic