England 2 Hungary 1: Gerrard comes to Capello's rescue
-
England 2 Hungary 1: Steven Gerrard comes to Fabio Capello's rescue with two fabulous goals at Wembley as England ease some of World Cup misery
Fortunately for England, Steven Gerrard dismissed those thoughts of international retirement as quickly as they entered his mind in the wake of the World Cup.
Because here at Wembley came yet more evidence of why this brilliant Liverpool midfielder will be central to England's recovery after the bitter disappointment of South Africa.
Two goals in four second-half minutes arrived like a resuscitation trolley in England's emergency ward, not least because of the manner in which Hungary had seized the lead and the storm brewing over Fabio Capello's untimely dumping of David Beckham.
Make mine a double: Gerrard celebrates his second goal at Wembley
After what had happened in Bloemfontein little more than a month ago, it was extraordinary. Another goal-line decision that again went against Capello's side because of FIFA's refusal to employ modern technology.
MATCH FACTS
England (4-1-4-1)
Hart 6; G Johnson 6, Jagielka 6, Terry 6
(Dawson 46min, 6), A Cole 6 (Gibbs 46, 6); Barry 6; Walcott 7 (Young 46, 6), Gerrard 8 (Wilshere 83), Lampard 6 (Zamora 46, 7), A Johnson 7; Rooney 6 (Milner 67, 5).Hungary (4-4-1-1)
Kiraly 5; Szelesi 6, Liptak 5 (Komlosi 53, 6), Juhasz 6, Vanczak 6 (Laczko 46, 5);
Dzsudzsak 6 (Koman 46, 6), Vadocz 6,
Elek (Toth 60), Huszti 6 (Hajnal 46, 5);
Gera; Rudolf (Priskin 83).Booked: Laczko, Koman.
Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France).Against Germany, Frank Lampard was denied a goal that was. Against Hungary Phil Jagielka was credited with an own goal that wasn't, the French officials failing to see that Michael Dawson had made a brilliant clearance.
When that moment came in the 61st minute, England were in serious danger of sliding into a deeper, darker depression. After the goal came the sight of Wayne Rooney waving sarcastically to the fans booing him as he left the field.
But then up stepped Gerrard, so often the courageous captain of Liverpool and now England's skipper and saviour with the kind of goals that only players of his quality score. A trademark effort from 20 yards and then something even more special.
After receiving the ball from Ashley Young, Gerrard turned and accelerated away from three defenders before guiding his close-range effort past Gabor Kiraly. Brilliant.
The 30-year-old had invited England's supporters to boo but it was an altogether more positive response when the stadium announcer then declared that he had quite rightly been voted the man of the match.
Eye for goal: Gerrard shoots past Gabor Kiraly for England's winner
Jeers gave way to cheers and nobody was smiling more than Gerrard who, unlike some of his former international team-mates, recognises that representing England is a privilege rather than a right.
Capello must understand that, even if his response to his captain's goals was strangely passive. A sign of his nerves perhaps, probably after seeing Hungary celebrate that controversial opening goal. As Beckham discovered, Capello was keen to make a fresh start. A case of out with the old, in with the new, the new on this occasion being the system England's manager has finally returned to for his stuttering team.
Fantastic strike: Steven Gerrard fires home England's equaliser at Wembley
Whether he could have deployed Rooney as a lone striker at the World Cup when the Manchester United forward was so clearly short of fitness is something that continues to divide opinion. But Capello opted for such an approach, handing Rooney the role he so enjoys performing at club level and selecting a midfield boasting width and pace as well as a position more suited to the considerable quality of Gerrard.
No longer England's wide man on the left, he was much happier joining Lampard and Gareth Barry in a central trio and happier still, dare it be said, when the Chelsea man went off.
As the Italian quite rightly stressed earlier this week, England are not a team that can be cured of their many ailments overnight. But this was a tentative step in the right direction, and a reason to be more optimistic than we were after the World Cup.
Capello still has much to learn, however. That he only gave his players 45 minutes before reverting to good old 4-4-2 with Bobby Zamora as partner to Rooney would have been a frustration for all but the Fulham striker making his debut.
First blood|: Hungary players celebrate Phil Jagielka's own goal
And in a week when the national coach has suffered one setback after another, the manner in which he chose to call time on Beckham's international career once again raised questions about his judgment.
After 115 caps the former England skipper, and someone who gave his time to assist Capello in South Africa as a member of the backroom staff, deserved better than to be publicly dumped during a television interview. Especially when Beckham remains so central to England's bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Marked man: Wayne Rooney wasn't short of attention from the visitors at Wembley
Had Capello contacted the 35-year-old prior to making the announcement? He said he had tried. Sorry, not good enough. With Beckham's representatives then announcing that their client had no intention of retiring, it all amounted to something of a mess. Yet another PR blunder for the FA to contend with.
After a relatively promising, if goalless, first half came the changes that marked the start of the second. Dawson for John Terry, Kieran Gibbs for Ashley Cole, Young for a lively Theo Walcott and Zamora for Lampard.
Plenty of empty seats: The fans stayed away in numbers after England's woeful World Cup campaign
It did not exactly improve the way England played, and when Jagielka's interception of a ball that was delivered by Tamas Hajnal flew towards England's goal Dawson made a clearance that referee Stephane Lannoy mistakenly thought was a fraction too late.
But two minutes later and Gerrard made the most of a fine run from Gibbs with that thumping 20-yard finish before scoring from closer range after receiving a neat pass from Young. Only then did Gerrard leave the field for Jack Wilshere, but it will be some time before the young Arsenal midf ielder replaces England's skipper permanently.
-
HD Quality!