Doncaster-born Danny Rose dedicated his goal at the Keepmoat Stadium to his family.
England |
2-0 |
Bosnia-Herzegovina |
Rose 40, Ranger 85 |
|
|
UEFA European U19 Championship
Elite Qualifying Round
7pm, Wednesday 27 May 2009
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Click here for tournament details
It was a triumphant return home for England midfielder Danny Rose on Wednesday night, as his goal got the Young Lions underway against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Doncaster-born Rose got the first goal with a fine header in what was a lively performance from the Tottenham Hotspur star, who was watched in his hometown by both family and friends.
Since heading to White Hart Lane from Leeds United, chances for Rose’s family to see him in action have been few and far between so to get a goal and put in a good performance meant a lot to the 18-year-old.
“It was good to play here, especially in front of my mum, because she hasn’t been able to see me play much this season with me being down south now,” he told TheFA.com.
“So it was good to score tonight and I’m glad that she was able to see it.”
It was a fine goal too, as the diminutive Rose leapt highest in the area to guide Nathan Delfouneso’s cross back across goal and into the net. A textbook header, if you will.
“We didn’t create too many chances, so it was a bit frustrating really but Nathan did well to get to the byline and put a cross in for me,” explained Rose.
“I think I was probably the smallest player on the pitch, so I did well to get up there and put it past the goalkeeper.”
Prior to that goal, England had found it tough to find a way past a numerically strong and determined Bosnian defence but having played for England at U16 and U17 level previously, Rose was experienced enough to know what to expect.
“On paper, we probably had the better team, but it doesn’t always work out like that in international football,” he explained.
“When we had the ball, they just had two banks of four and it was hard to break them down, but we knew that if we scored first they would have to change their game plan and try to attack us and that might open the game up a little bit.
“So we did well, and Nile did well to get a second goal.”
England now face Slovakia in Bradford on Friday evening, when Rose and his team-mates will be hoping to make it six points out of six.