Wales

0-4

England

 

 

Stead 5, Whittingham 25, 90, Dawson 67

UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifier
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Friday 2 September 2005

Aston Villa star Peter Whittingham was delighted with his two-goal contribution as England overcame Wales on Friday evening.

The midfielder, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Thursday, joined Sunderland's Jonathan Stead and Tottenham's Michael Dawson on the scoresheet as the young Lions ensured a play-off place in Group Six. All three players found the net for the first time in Peter Taylor's side.

Whittingham said: "I need to bring shooting into my game a lot more. I've been encouraged to do so and it came together today and long may it continue."

And the tenacious youngster praised the efforts of his team-mates on a night of clinical finishing from England's forwards and sturdy defending from the Lions' rearguard.

He said "It was good. We needed the result because we knew that Poland had drawn with Austria. We knew that if we won, we would be through."

"To keep a clean sheet and have a few goals as well is all good. I thought Carlton (Cole) did well. He looked sharp; so did the two central defenders – their technique and their passing was good."

And Whittingham can't wait to don his scoring boots again when England travel to group leaders Germany on Tuesday night.

He added:"We are going to go there knowing it's going to be a hard game and they have a good team. But we know after how we played today, that we can beat anyone."