What we received from England v Jamaica

The preference of 4-4-2 became clear with Michael Owen not too comfortable being the lone striker, despite support from Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch joined Owen upfront. Gerrard and Frank Lampard decided to swap the forward/holding positions, Jamie Carragher in place of Gary Neville. From the start England came at Jamaica and Jamaica returned the gesture, beginning to look a side with more intent than just showing up for the match. A clear intention to outmuscle Owen from his marker was apparent and the Reggae Boyz looked keen to shut down the England players. However, the breakthrough emerged after 10mins from a Paul Robinson goal kick that reached into the box for Crouch to head down towards Owen, who kicked the ball overhead, Lampard unmarked coming into the box to put it away.

Joe Cole was fouled on the left by Omar Daley which resulted in a freekick on 16mins. David Beckham delivered the ball with a trademark bend into the box and amongst the number of those challenging was Jermaine Taylor over Lampard, inadvertently heading the ball down towards goal and in, over the outstretched hands of keeper and skipper Donovan Ricketts. Yet one scare that occurred at the England rearguard was a loose bouncing ball which John Terry tried to reach but couldn't, leaving the opportunity for Jason Euell to break in and fire at Robinson, the Spurs man producing a good stop that was cleared by Carragher.

Yet England continued to add good pressure when they went on the attack, which went on to pay dividends again. On 27 mins, a Beckham corner was missed by all except Crouch, who stole across his marker with his right foot to direct the ball towards goal. Now, a difference of opinion here. The ball was seen on replay to have been kicked at by Daley, and his effort deflected the ball into the goal. Contrary opinion says the goal was goal-bound and counted for Crouch despite Daley's contact. For me, the ball was going wide and clearly changed direction from Daley's contact, and very simply is an own goal. It matters little, England went 3-0 up and then made it four past the half hour when Rio Ferdinand came forward and delivered a ball over the defence for Owen, who was played onside by Daley. Owen simply ran on and touched the ball past the advancing Ricketts, who came out towards Owen like a defender rather than a goalkeeper and last man of defence. Owen touched away into the empty net.

England made a number of advancements in the first half and could have made them count on more than four occasions, looking comfortable and organised at the back with little pressure. Ashley Cole and Terry came off as a precaution on 33 and 35mins respectively. Cole had a tight thigh, Terry a tight hamstring, replaced by Wayne Bridge and Sol Campbell. Another substitution at half time swapped Robinson for David James, who went on to have practically one save to make of little effort and an otherwise comfortable afternoon. Jamaica found gaps in the second half amongst the flanks as Ricardo Fuller and Deon Burton went close on goal, yet it was Crouch upfront mostly who was the target man, chesting the ball neatly in the path of Cole, who fired wide. On 66mins, England on the attack found the ball wide towards Beckham on the right, who then played a sublime ball between two players for the overlapping Carragher to meet first time across goal, Crouch on hand to bury England's fifth. Cue ensuing robotics, which had me in stitches.

Sven Goran-Eriksson made more changes with Spurs duo Michael Carrick and Aaron Lennon coming on for Lampard and Beckham, and on 77mins Stuart Downing was introduced for Gerrard, moving Cole over to central midfield from the left flank. As the match closed in towards the end of normal time England were yet again on the attack. Lennon raced down the right to pull back a sweet ball to Owen, who I expected to hit first time but he took one touch and miskicked, immediately shut down by three players. He still had the ball and managed to twist away, only to be impeded through contact on his heel by the slipping Khari Stephenson.

Man-of-the-moment Crouch was allowed to take the spot kick instead of Owen, Alan Shearer on the BBC panel stated Owen should have taken it by virtue of holding the armband, which for me was insignificant, but Owen is more proven form the spot. But as the moment came, Crouch looked confident and looked to do no wrong but instead, as he fooled Ricketts, chipped the ball over the bar. It was a killing moment that slightly blotted his efforts of the week, much less of the game, but he came back to redeem. Minutes later, Downing ran down the left and knocked the ball over to Owen by the edge of the box, Owen touched it first time to Crouch and Crouch hit it first time to curl the ball into the bottom corner. Understandably, it was a clenched fist and no robotics this time.

This was Eriksson's last warm-up match, his last England match on home soil and it was a sentimental occasion. The players stayed on and walked a lap of honour with Eriksson and the management team. Terry and Ashley Cole are expected to be fit for Saturday and therefore not a worry, which keeps the side intact and ready. If we can play like this, albeit Jamaica left spaces often, we can do well to start with. A number of link-up plays, quick passes, runs, and little of giving away possession added to the industrious way we passed around in their third towards goal. I expect the Paraguayans wont chase us while we are in possession but will aim to come at us quickly when they get hold of the ball, and that could open up for us on the counterattack. Looking forward to the match.


RedsMan.