Brazilian stroll exposes England´s lack of depth

November 15, 2009

Brazil kept their World Cup preparations on track by cruising to a 1-0 win over a second-string England side here on Saturday that was much more comfortable than the close scoreline suggested.

A superbly-taken header by Villarreal striker Nilmar settled a contest the five-times world champions were always in control of and might easily have won by a bigger margin.

A penalty miss by Luis Fabiano ensured England, captained for the first time by Wayne Rooney, remained in contention until the end but, overall, the evening served to underline the importance of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard — all of whom were absent injured — being fit for next year’s finals.

Brazil never demonstrated the kind of gear changes that will be required to overcome the likes of Spain in South Africa next year. But a cautious England never required them too and there was genuine quality in the angled through ball from Galatasaray midfielder Elano that enabled Nilmar to head the winner two minutes into the second half.

Twelve days after becoming a father for the first time, Rooney took his bow as England captain after John Terry became the ninth member of Fabio Capello’s first-choice line-up to be ruled out by injury.

Joleon Lescott came in for the regular skipper while Capello was also forced into a last-minute adjustment in midfield, where an ankle injury to Michael Carrick ensured Jermaine Jenas started his first international in over a year.

Rooney, winning his 57th cap at the age of 24, was supported in attack by Darren Bent, but England’s lack of adventure ensured the Sunderland striker had little chance to press his own World Cup case and he made way for Jermain Defoe before an hour had elapsed.

Given that England had won just three of their 22 previous encounters with Brazil, a hint of nerves among the back-up players on display was to be expected.

Matthew Upson, in particular, looked to be affected by stage fright as he left England exposed twice in quick succession by losing possession deep in England’s half.

A wayward shot by Felipe Melo and Nilmar’s failure to produce a telling cross ensured the slips were not exploited and it was not until the 23rd minute that the Brazilians had a clear sight of goal.

Kaka’s clever pass inside Wes Brown played Michel Bastos into the box and the leftback’s drive forced Foster into a full-length dive as it skidded beyond the far post.

England responded immediately with a half-chance of their own, Bent heading James Milner’s cross from the left over the bar.

Foster, who had looked tentative as he fluffed an early clearance, appeared more composed as he gathered strikes from Felipe Melo and Kaka.

The stifling effect of Brazil’s deployment of two midfielders charged with protecting their back four was limiting Rooney’s involvement but there was a glimpse of his threat when he sidestepped Thiago Silva on the edge of the box, provoking a body check from the centreback that went unsanctioned.

Given how cautiously his side had played, Capello would have been happy to be level at the break but they were soon behind to a goal that served as a reminder of the importance of Terry and Ferdinand to their hopes in South Africa.

From just to the right of the centre circle, Elano floated a ball over the heads of the stand-in centrebacks and, having darted in behind them from the left, Nilmar steered his header beyond Foster into the far corner of the net.

England should have fallen two behind after Wes Brown’s misguided attempt to chest the ball back to Foster allowed Luis Fabiano to nick the ball past the goalkeeper.

Foster’s dive sent the striker tumbling but England were granted a double reprieve as the referee only produced a yellow card and Fabiano lifted the resulting spot-kick over the bar.

James Milner might have made the Brazilians pay for that when Wright-Phillips’ cross found him unmarked at the back post.

But the Aston Villa winger’s volley comfortably cleared the bar and there was another late let-off for England when a shot from Brazilian captain Lucio beat Foster but came back off the post.

DOHA (AFP)

Tags: choice line, england captain, england side, fabio capello, frank lampard, gear changes, genuine quality, jermain defoe, jermaine jenas, luis fabiano, matthew upson, Michael Carrick, rio ferdinand, scoreline, second string, Steven Gerrard, wayne rooney

Zola looks for hammer blow against struggling Everton

November 8, 2009

Gianfranco Zola may be a relative novice in the managerial trade, but already the Italian has experienced more dizzying highs and stultifying lows than many of the most grizzled veterans.

In the space of just over a year, he has led West Ham to a top-half finish in the English Premier League, been forced to contend with myriad off-field financial problems and, most recently, negotiated a slump in form which put his own job prospects on the line.

That Zola has met all these scenarios with equanimity speaks volumes for his character and serves as confirmation of why he is still considered one of the brightest managerial prospects in the top flight.

Even during the most recent crisis – a nine-match winless streak which dumped West Ham in the relegation zone – Zola remained unflappable, insisting his team’s fortunes would take a turn for the better, sooner rather than later.

His faith was justified by a last-gasp victory over Aston Villa last Wednesday and the former Chelsea striker can now confront Sunday’s meeting with Everton, who are locked in their own dangerous downward spiral, with genuine enthusiasm.

“Football is about confidence,” he reflected.

“We know we have been playing well but not picking up the points we needed. That victory (against Villa) will give us a lot. The rest is all there.

“We know we have the qualities, we know that we can compete at high levels. The mood has been very positive and everybody has been lifted.”

Zola’s squad might be on the thin side but at least he can call upon genuine quality along the spine of his side in Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole, all England internationals.

There were signs before the Villa victory that West Ham were a team on the rise.

Arsenal were held to a draw courtesy of a stirring fight-back in the dying minutes and the Hammers raced into a two-goal lead at Sunderland before flaky defending cost them two points in the second half.

A three-match unbeaten run might not be cause for jubilation in east London but Zola believes it could be the start of a more sustained recovery.

“The team needs some personalities and they need those personalities to step in at the right moment, which is what they have been doing recently,” Zola added.

David Moyes’ Everton team are in the midst of an appalling run, having not tasted victory in seven games in all competitions thanks to a combination of a crippling injury list, nose-diving confidence and poor form from key players.

The gloom enveloping Goodison Park is a far cry from the halcyon days of spring, when Everton achieved a second successive fifth-place finish in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final.

Moyes’ meagre squad appears to be struggling to cope with the gruelling schedule provided by the Europa League where they have suffered back-to-back defeats against Benfica.

“As a manager it is down to me to put things right, to find a winning formula from the ranks that I have here,” Moyes said.

“In the past I have tended to do that, I feel it is probably one of my strengths. I have tried not to have any regrets about it (playing in Europe).

“But the more and more games you play in it, the more and more times you realise that some other managers have talked a lot of sense about the number of games in the Europa League.

“With the squad we have got it is very difficult to win Premier League games when you have got so many midweek games.”

LONDON (AFP)