Euro 2008 Qualifier - Estonia vs England
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6th June 2007
The Redcoats are coming to Tallinn!
The match has sold out - everyone wants to go to A Le Coq to flick popcorn at Skeleton Spice.
I'm NOT supporting England in case you haven't realised... -
i hope this match will end McClaren reign as ENG gaffer
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Not likely... Estonia is not a good team, if Russia maybe.Originally posted by a-Lost-9uY:i hope this match will end McClaren reign as ENG gaffer -
It looks unlikely that Oper will start.
But the narrow loss to the group leaders was encouraging. -
Steve McClaren is considering keeping the side that drew with Brazil for England's Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia tomorrow night. The players were asked to train in the identical 4-4-2 formation during their last practice session in Manchester before flying to Estonia today. When the first-team bibs were handed out Alan Smith was still alongside Michael Owen in attack despite being ineffectual against Brazil at Wembley on Friday. Nicky Shorey's growing band of admirers will be pleased to learn he was retained at left-back ahead of Wayne Bridge.
McClaren had stated that he would consider making changes, in particular by bringing in the Liverpool striker Peter Crouch for Smith. However, his line-up yesterday indicates that he may keep the XI who started against Brazil, when England came within a minute of victory. McClaren has also spoken to Kieron Dyer about introducing him as an impact substitute at right-back if England are struggling to break down their opponents. Jamie Carragher filled the position on Friday but McClaren expects Estonia to be so defence-oriented that he may replace the Liverpool defender with the more attacking Dyer.
Although Dyer is now considered a midfielder or deep-lying striker, his England debut against Luxemburg came at right-back in 1999 and he made appearances in that position for Ipswich Town before moving to Newcastle United. Smith's inclusion from the start tomorrow would demonstrate the extent of his fight-back from the broken leg and dislocated ankle he suffered while playing for Manchester United against Liverpool in the FA Cup in February last year.
Smith, whose club-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has undergone knee surgery which is expected to sideline him for weeks rather than months, hopes a positive period will continue with a fresh contract at Old Trafford. "My agent has spoken with the club and the talks should happen in the next few weeks," he said. -
Gerrard Sux, put Lamps & another midfielder to work........ or else England can crash out for all i care!
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Originally posted by innosaint:
[b]Gerrard Sux, put Lamps & another midfielder to work........ or else England can crash out for all i care! [/b] -
Here's a photo of Skeleton Spice in Tallinn on Monday.
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they should send these WAGS off!Originally posted by Kuali Baba:Here's a photo of Skeleton Spice in Tallinn on Monday. -
any idea when this is shown on cable?
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7 june 2.15am (sg time) channel 21 supersports plus
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wish for a thrashing for England.
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1-0 to England at halftime.
It was a strange thing for the commentator to say that "there aren't any smiles on the faces of the Estonians" - that won't change even if the scoreline was the other way around.
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Estonia 0-3 England
David Beckham inspired England to a comfortable Euro 2008 qualifier win against Estonia in Tallinn to ease the pressure on coach Steve McClaren. Joe Cole broke the deadlock after 36 minutes, turning sweetly to volley home Peter Crouch's flick. Crouch doubled England's lead eight minutes after the break when he headed home a superb Beckham cross.
Beckham then provided a far post cross for Michael Owen to add England's third after 61 minutes. It was a professional display from England that sets them up for the crucial qualifying tests against Croatia and Russia. And as well as Beckham confirming his return to the international stage before limping off with an ankle injury, Owen will also be delighted to be back on target for England after his lengthy absence with a serious knee injury.
England, as expected, recalled Crouch up front alongside Owen, and he had a hand in the goal that finally broke the deadlock. McClaren's side had been made to work hard for their advantage against a resilient, but desperately limited, Estonia side. Crouch side-footed only inches wide from the edge of the area as England dominated possession without making an early breakthrough.
Beckham was a major source of danger, despite struggling after twisting an ankle early on, sending a dipping shot just wide. He also created confusion in the Estonia area in the 28th minute, keeper Mart Poom palming out his free-kick to Owen, but the striker was unable to turn home the rebound. England were finally ahead nine minutes before the interval, when Cole turned and scored brilliantly after Crouch flicked on Wayne Bridge's throw-in.
But Estonia were almost gifted an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Vladimir Voskoboinikov was only denied by Paul Robinson's brave block after evading Ledley King and John Terry. England, however, finished off Estonia with a double strike after the break, with Beckham the creator on both occasions. After 53 minutes he curled in a superb right-flank cross which Crouch headed beyond Poom. And eight minutes later he set up Owen for a far post finish that gave the Newcastle striker a record 23rd competitive goal for his country.
Beckham left the field to an ovation from England's fans after 67 minutes, still nursing an ankle injury, to be replaced by Kieron Dyer. The only other downside on England's night was a late booking for Crouch which rules him out of the qualifier with Israel at Wembley in September. Estonia almost claimed their first goal of the qualifying campaign in injury time, but captain John Terry cleared off the line from Tarmo Kink.
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Estonia: Poom, Jaager, Stepanov, Kruglov, Klavan, Dmitrijev, Lindpere, Vassiljev, Konsa (Neemelo 46), Voskoboinikov, Terehhov (Kink 64).
Subs Not Used: Kotenko, Barengrub, Rooba, Leetma, Kams.
England: Robinson, Brown, Terry, King, Bridge, Beckham (Dyer 68 ), Gerrard, Lampard, Cole (Downing 75), Crouch, Owen (Jenas 88 ).
Subs Not Used: Carson, Carragher, Smith, Defoe.
Booked: Crouch.
Goals: Cole 37, Crouch 54, Owen 62.
Att: 11,000
Ref: Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland).
P W D L Pts
Croatia 7 5 2 0 ................ 17
Israel 8 5 2 1 .................. 17
Russia 7 4 3 0 ................. 15
England 7 4 2 1 ............... 14
Macedonia 7 2 1 4 ............. 7
Estonia 7 0 0 7 ................. 0
Andorra 7 0 0 7 ................ 0 -
England's European Championship qualification hopes hang in the balance as chief rivals Croatia and Russia played out a goalless draw in Zagreb.
Russia weathered sustained pressure to escape the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb with a vital point in Group E.
Steve McClaren's men are now only three points behind leaders Croatia.
But Israel joined Croatia at the top of the group with a 2-0 victory over Andorra at a rain-drenched Estadi Comunal.
Goals from Toto Tamuz and Roberto Colautti either side of half-time handed the visitors a second win in four days - the first a 2-1 victory over FYR Macedonia in Skopje. -
so the nxt match England vs Israel is a must-win for England ?
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basically england needs to win all the hm matches....they still have a tough away trip to moscow..
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anyway keep in mind tis is just a qualifier rounds, england can easily scroll past.
but they will not get far when they r in the big stage. -
Err... most important is to reach there first... Minimum $40 million just to qualify waiting for you. Then you take it from there...
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Everything is about England, England and Eng-grr-land in TNP.