England 2-0 Slovakia

European Under 21 Championships
Qualifying Group 7
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Tuesday 10th June 2003

England's Under-21s came away from the Stadium of Light with a satisfying 2-0 victory over Slovakia in what was a must win game to keep their qualification hopes on track.

With Turkey having seized control of the group having beaten Macedonia 3-0 earlier in the day, the heat was very much on England to get a win to stay in touch at the top. That they did, even if it wasn't one of the greatest performances that David Platt's men have produced in recent times.

All the life and quality in this game came at the beginning. Jermaine Pennant, fresh from an excellent display against Serbia and Montenegro, was England's chief threat. His jinking runs were more than Slovakia could handle and he skipped to the byline with ease on a number of occasions.

His dash past three defenders on the quarter hour showed exactly what he's capable of. Only a last ditch tackle prevented him from capping the move with a goal.

England clearly had the better of their opponents but were maybe a little too eager to hit Defoe and Ameobi early. Had they been more patient, you got the feeling that they could have had the visitors in all sorts of problems.

Two of the less well-known names in the side, Steven Sidwell and Stuart Parnaby, were also two of the more impressive performers. On 25 minutes, the energetic Sidwell found Parnaby on one of his forward surges and the Middlesbrough man produced the most delicate of first touches, chipping the ball around his marker to give himself a shot on goal. That shot may not have been of the same quality as the approach, but the deftness of his play was certainly beyond that which might be expected of a full back.

On 36 minutes, Jermain Defoe produced an Ian Wright-style chip on the turn but, in truth, England were not creating the chances that their possession and ability should have yielded.

On 39 minutes came the breakthrough. Shola Ameobi danced around his man on the right flank before playing the ball into the path of Pennant's run. The Arsenal man skipped to the by-line and produced such a dangerous cross that the Slovak defender Peter Dolezaj was forced to flick out a boot at it. In the event, he only succeeded in deflecting the ball into the net for England's opener.

On the day of his 37th birthday, it was just the gift that David Platt will have wanted.

Until the goal, Slovakia had shown precious little going forward but Rhys Evans did have to be off his line quickly to dive bravely at the feet of Gottwald within a minute of England's goal.

The second half started as the first half had ended - slowly. However, England did have an early chance to double the lead and once again it was Pennant who was at the centre of the action. Dispossessing a defender, he charged into the box before frustratingly blazing over the bat from close range.

Although he managed a hat-trick towards the end of the Premier League season for Arsenal, finishing is arguably the area of Jermaine's game that he should look to work on.

Soon after, Slovakia once again posted notice of their own threat on the break. Pouncing on Evans' hesitation, Drzik got to the ball first and crossed to the far post where the number ten, Gottwald (who was their most impressive performer on the night) narrowly missed out on getting the final touch.

As the game petered out, tiredness and frustration replaced the skill and ambition with which the game had started. The Slovak number eight, Duris, clattered into Bobby Zamora and was rewarded with his second caution of the night.

The weariness was apparent too in the legs of the England players. Jermain Defoe, normally a livewire, was not the threat he can be.

It took a set-piece and a headed goal from Phil Jagielka to give the scoreline a more pleasing look.

Two goals, three points, one job done.

From Daniel Freedman at The Stadium of Light

Teams

England: Rhys Evans, Stuart Parnaby, Phil Jagielka, Peter Clarke, Paul Konchesky, Jermaine Pennant, David Prutton, Steven Sidwell, Gareth Barry, Shola Ameobi, Jermain Defoe.
Subs: Glen Johnson, Richard Lee, Michael Tonge, Darren Ambrose, Darren Bent, Bobby Zamora, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Dolezaj (og) 40, Jagielka 83

Slovakia: Postrk, Hricko, Demeter, Svrcek, Jez, Ancic, Drzik, Duris, Dolezaj, Gottwald, Kiska.
Subs: Mucha, Sapara, Barmos, Sestak, Gasparik, Vavrik, Cech.

Referee: T Skjerven (Norway)