Crouch stands tall
Friday, 16 November, 2007
Whenever Peter Crouch scores, England win - the Three Lions will hope the lucky omen continues on Wednesday.
Austria 0-1 Germany
International Friendly
8pm, Friday 16 November 2007
Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Peter Crouch reminded the nation of a little known fact here in Vienna – that when he scores England win.
The Liverpool striker grabbed his 13th international goal in just his 23rd match for the Three Lions and it was enough to clinch victory over Austria.
The sight of Michael Owen going off injured in the Ernst-Happel Stadium will have England fans chewing their nails ahead of next week’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia.
But a closer look at Crouch's amazing international record should give everyone some encouragement whatever the verdict on his strike partner.
The big man's goals have come at the ratio of more than one every two games since he made his debut against Colombia in May 2005.
The first was against Uruguay at Anfield almost a year later, a game England won 2-1. And since then he has scored in eight more matches – and every single one has ended in a Three Lions victory.
His record includes a hat-trick against Jamaica and braces against both Greece and Andorra, and he was right in the thick of the action here in Vienna, too.
The 26-year-old led the line well for Steve McClaren’s men and showed an array of clever touches that England fans have come to expect.
His clever back-heel into Owen’s path almost ended in a superb goal in the first half and he also put Joe Cole away with a chested pass that had to be admired.
He headed the winning goal in the 44th minute when he rose above the Austria defence to send a downward header into the net from a David Beckham corner.
And he came very close to making it 2-0 after the break when he got on the end of a superb Ashley Young cross, only to see keeper Alex Manninger make a fine point-blank save.
Crouch was also involved in another of the game’s talking points when he raced onto an excellent pass from David Beckham and collided with Austria keeper Jurgen Macho, an unfortunate accident that left his opponent out cold.
But his most crucial contribution, yet again, was the winning goal.
There were other plusses for England on the night, including a bright second-half display from Young and a clean sheet on his debut for Scott Carson.
But if England's lucky mascot can continue his remarkable run against Croatia next week he could well find the headlines are all his own.
Austria: 1 Jurgen Macho (21 Alex Manninger, 26), 14 Gyorgy Garics, 3 Martin Stanzl (16 Martin Hiden, 86), 4 Franz Schiemer, 5 Ronald Gercaliu, 2 Joachim Standfest (17 Veli Kavlak, 78), 6 Rene Aufhauser, 7 Yuksel Sariyar (20 Martin Harnik, 65), 8 Markus Weissenberger (11 Roman Kiernast, 46), 10 Andreas Ivanschitz (c), 9 Sanel Kuljic (18 Christoph Leitgeb, 46).
Subs: 13 Johannes Ertl, 15 Christian Fuchs, 19 Jurgen Saumel, 22 Jurgen Patocka.
England: 1 Scott Carson, 2 Micah Richards, 3 Wayne Bridge, 4 Steven Gerrard (16 Gareth Barry 46), 5 Joleon Lescott, 6 Sol Campbell (15 Wes Brown 46), 7 David Beckham (18 David Bentley 62), 8 Frank Lampard, 9 Peter Crouch (21 Alan Smith 73), 10 Michael Owen (24 Jermain Defoe 34), 11 Joe Cole (20 Ashley Young 46)
Subs: 12 Ashley Cole, 13 David James, 14 Nicky Shorey, 17 Phil Neville, 19 Stewart Downing, 22 Paul Robinson, 23 Shaun Wright-Phillips
Goals
Crouch 44
Referee: Nicolai Vollquartz
Attendance: TBC