Jon Gribbin scores as the Blind team beat Germany 2-0 in Hereford.

England Blind team 2-0 Germany
Friendly international
Saturday 17 April 2010
thePoint4, Hereford

England’s Jon Gribbin put in a Man of the Match performance as England drew inspiration from 1966 World Cup winner George Cohen to record a friendly win over Germany in front of a capacity crowd at thePoint4 in Hereford on Saturday.

The game served as England’s final warm up fixture before this summer’s World Championships and followed a meeting with Cohen after the tournament group stages draw at Wembley on 12 April.

The two teams had battled to a 0-0 draw in a behind closed doors friendly on 16 April but Gribbin was the difference just 24 hours later. The 34-year-old had already hit the post twice in the first half before finally breaking the deadlock just minutes into the second period with a stunning strike past German keeper, Sascha Mueller.

England’s record goal-scorer, Dave Clarke, then added to his 100+ international goals when he converted from the penalty spot.

The Three Lions poured forward in the closing stages and were thwarted by Mueller and the woodwork as Gribbin hit the post 
Gribbin received a standing ovation when he was substituted towards the end of the game as England Head Coach Tony Larkin used his squad to the maximum.

“The team improved greatly following their performance on Friday night and we are happy at this stage with the progress they are making ahead of the World Championships in August," said Larkin. “Germany proved to be tough opponents and gave us a real test."

IBSA World Championship tournament director, Jon Dutton, paid tribute to Germany and their test of endurance to beat the no fly ban across Europe and make it to Hereford for the two friendlies: “The Germans had their flight cancelled because of the volcanic ash cloud so they travelled by bus to Calais where they picked up the Euro tunnel.

“They then got themselves to London Heathrow where another bus picked them up and brought them to Hereford, completing a 17-hour journey.

“We gave the German team an option of cancelling but they were determined to make it and everyone connected with The FA and the IBSA World Championships applauds their fantastic dedication.”

England
Dan James (GK), Lewis Skyers (GK), Dan English, Robin Williams, Keryn Seal, Owen Bainbridge, Craig Lundberg, Jonathan Heenan, Dave Clarke (captain) and Jon Gribbin

Germany
Sascha Mueller (GK), Alex Fangmann, Sven Schwarze, Lukas Smirek, Sebastian Schaefer, Cengiz Dinc, Michael Wahl, Mulgheta Russom, Heinrich Niehaus and Moritz Klotz (GK)