England 1-1 Turkey

UEFA U-21 Championships
Qualifying Group 7
St James' Park, Newcastle United
Tuesday 1st April 2003

England's Under-21 side drew 1-1 with Turkey at St James Park on Tuesday night in a match that will have both pleased and frustrated coach David Platt.

After the disappointment of Friday's defeat to Portugal, the young Lions showed glimpses of their ability but never dominated the visitors, whose short passes and movement off the ball mirrored the style of their Senior team.

It will have been an instructive evening for Sven who was looking on from the stands. Managers may not make signings in international football but David Platt's acquisition of Jermaine Jenas and Francis Jeffers from the Sven's Senior team did much to boost morale and confidence in the camp, not to mention adding substance and skill to the core of the starting eleven.

Indeed it was Jeffers that had the first genuine chance of the game on eight minutes. David Prutton won the ball and twisted his way past a couple of defenders before releasing Joe Cole who drove forward and played Jeffers in as he strode through the inside-right channel.

The Arsenal man struck his effort true and early but it shot past the post. Soon it became clear that it was not a chance England could have afforded to spurn.

Following an England corner, the Turks sped downfield and, having worked a yard of space for Okan on the right hand touchline, the winger produced an inch-perfect cross, which Tuncay did well to make his at the near post, giving Murray no chance when he fired home from close range.

Tuncay, with his gliding runs and close skill, is part of the new breed of Turkish talent being ushered through their game. He was arguably the most impressive performer on the pitch tonight. Initially England struggled to get back into the game, though Joe Cole's tenacious 20th minute tackle showed David Platt's side the way forward.

Barry followed his lead and showed the same determination to win the ball from Defoe's flick on 24 minutes and then his wonderfully searching ball from the left identified Jeffers who was in yards of space in the centre. Francis had the confidence to control the ball and take on his man before sweeping the ball across Volkan and into the corner.

Jeffers now has thirteen goals in thirteen games for the Under-21s. He is a class apart at this level and is now the joint record goalscorer with Alan Shearer.

There could easily have been more first half goals. On 28 minutes Joe Cole was a little over-elaborate on the edge of the area and was lucky that Tuncay was just as profligate with his finishing.

Then, on the half-hour, a JJ free-kick could well have been going in before it flicked a Turkish head in the wall. That the referee did not give a corner was as surprising as it was erroneous.

Drawing one all at half-time, there was a platform on which England could build but it was not to be. Indeed, the game never really opened out in the way that the first half had suggested it might.

Fouls peppered the play and stunted the action. In terms of chances, Kemal and Tuncay had early opportunities before a late England surge might have inspired a late winner.

The positives for David Platt will have been the performances of his more experienced performers. Jeffers once again proved he is fabulous finisher while skipper Gareth Barry's left-foot was England's most elegant and penetrative weapon on the night.

As for Jenas, he can be the master of the minutiae. His little flicks to win the ball and start a move can often be the difference between defence and attack.

Tonight, despite the efforts of Jermaine and his team-mates, the equilibrium could not be tipped.

From Daniel Freedman at St James' Park

England U21: Murray, Samuel, Clarke, Dawson, Konchesky, Jenas, Joe Cole, Prutton, Barry, Jeffers, Defoe.
Subs: Johnson, Bywater, Nolan, Stewart, Etherington, Carlton Cole, Crouch.

Goals: Jeffers 25

Turkey U21: Volkan, Baici, Yavuz, Cetin, Usta, Toraman, Arslan, Inceman, Kartal, Sanli, Koc.
Subs: Kursunlu, Hamit Altintop, Egedik, Kalogou, Kandil, Halil Altintop, Tunckip.

Goals: Sanli 13

Referee: Julian Rodriguez Santiago (Spain).