 |
|||||
        |
Slovakia U21 2 -v- 0 England U21
Basic defensive errors cost England dear as Howard Wilkinson's team slumped out of the Euro finals at the group stage. In their first international played at any level against Slovakia, England were in the end well beaten to end their short stay in the tournament. They finished third in their four-team group, hammering Turkey 6-0 but decisively losing to Italy as well as to the home nation. England's squad for the finals was depleted through injuries and the Euro 2000 call-ups of players such as Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry. But the side nevertheless failed to match expectations, having ironically fallen away following the controversial dismissal of coach Peter Taylor. Now in charge of Nationwide League side Gillingham, Taylor was relieved of his international duties after guiding the Under 21's to seven successive qualifying group victories without conceding a goal. Under his successor, England have lost three and won just two of their subsequent five competitive matches. Wilkinson pointed out, however: "The quality at this level is very high and the players have learned that getting results away from home is not easy. "We must take the positives, though - we came here to learn and 12 of our players can play again next year at Under 21 level. In this tournament we have made four mistakes over the three games and that meant four goals conceded and two games lost. I don't blame them, though, I forgive them - and they will go from here as better players." Against Slovakia in what proved to be their last match of the finals, England were outclassed in the first half then lost the game though two elementary second half mistakes. The urgent, probing play of the Slovakians should have brought them goals before the interval. Gresko sent a 12 yard shot just wide, Babnic had a 20 yard effort saved by Nicky Weaver then Nemeth somehow missed the simplest chance of the match after the England defence had been cut to ribbons by Czinega's run and pass. England captain Frank Lampard was unlucky when a goalbound volley hit striker Carl Cort and bounced clear, but at the other end Weaver had to stop a Czinega 18 yard strike with an outstretched foot as Slovakia pressed again. A change of personnel and formation boosted England at the start of the second half, midfielder Lee Hendrie and striker Andy Campbell helping give the side a more positive look as they switched from 3-5-2 to 4-4-3. But dreadful blunders by defenders Luke Young and Jamie Carragher handed the game to Slovakia and sentenced England to an early flight home. Young put a badly directed 67th pass straight into the path of Babnic, who ran forward to hit an 18 yard shot which deflected off the the unlucky Ledley King to beat Weaver. England should have equalised from a low Cort cross, but striker Francis Jeffers made a hash of his attempted shot then - as the ball rebounded off the goalkeeper - Hendrie's first time effort was cleared off the line. The wasted opportunity proved costly as Slovakia swept into a two-goal advantage in the 74th minute, Carragher mis-timing a tackle just inside the England half and Nemeth racing clear to neatly slide a 20 yard shot past the advancing Weaver. Wilkinson's side gamely fought back in the closing stages, but the nearest they came to scoring was when Lampard's powerfully struck 30 yard drive was well saved by Controfalsky in the 89th minute. |
||||
|
|||||
