Engand 3-0 Switzerland

Thursday 17 June 2004
5.00 - Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra

Wayne Rooney once again stole the show as England defeated ten-man Switzerland 3-0 to put their Euro 2004 campaign well and truly back on track in Coimbra.

Sweltering conditions took a little of the heat out of England’s display but Rooney’s passionate brilliance and a classy finish from Steven Gerrard brought home the three points that were so desperately required after defeat against France in the first game.

England started slowly. Scholes’ tendency to push inside left Ashley Cole isolated defensively at times, forcing the Arsenal man to give away a free-kick on the quarter hour from which we were lucky to emerge unscathed. The Swiss’ set-pieces were worrying us.

England’s breakaways were scarce initially and Rooney was so keen to latch onto Lampard’s first through ball that he followed through on goalkeeper Stiel, earning a caution.

The England coaching staff are determined not to tame the instinctiveness that is the key to Rooney’s game, one just hopes that it won’t end in tears as it did for his hero Gazza back in 1990.

England’s strengths revolve around playing high-tempo football – as they did against France. That is simply not possible in the kind of heat in which this contest was played.

With Switzerland’s more measured approach prospering thanks to the intelligent probings of Hakan Yakin, England were not finding it easy. So, with a quarter of the match gone, Steven Gerrard took matters into his own hands.

The Liverpool man ignored the conditions and set off on a trademark storming run straight down the middle. He was upended but the referee intelligently played the advantage allowing Beckham to float a ball over to Owen at the far post. Owen cut back inside on his right foot and curled in a centre.

Rooney powered himself into the air and bulleted a header home from six yards.

He was ecstatic, delirious, relieved and also the youngest-ever scorer in the history of the European Championship. It looks like we might have a player on our hands.

The match tipped further towards England early in the second half when Haas was dismissed for two bookable challenges, the latter a cruncher on Cole.

England took advantage and Rooney and Owen both might have added to the score before the second goal, both just failing to latch onto long throughballs. Michael needs a goal – when doesn’t a striker? – but perhaps he is just waiting until we really need it.

It wasn’t until the introduction of the man who always seems to make things happen for England – Darius Vassell – that we took the game out of Switzerland’s reach.

Hargreaves, also on as substitute, cleared long and high from his own penalty area, fully aware that Darius’ speed will always make him first to the ball. Sure enough The Villa Express won the race and then the battle of strength.

He laid the ball off to Rooney who thwacked it towards the goal. It hit the foot of the post and rebounded in off the back of Stiel’s head.

2-0. More evidence of Rooney’s incisiveness. Game over.

There was even time for a slick third when Beckham released Neville for a superb run and cross down the right. He found Gerrard free at the far post. He made no mistake.

We had England’s biggest competitive win since the crushing of Denmark in the 2002 World Cup.

England can play better – of that there is no doubt. But we would have certainly taken 3-0 before kick-off.

Particular credit must go to Ashley Cole for his excellent work down the left flank…and, of course, to Mr Rooney.

Roll on Croatia.

Goals: Rooney 23, Rooney 75, Gerrard 82

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