England 3 Egypt 1:ENGLAND HAD a friendly that suited them, even if it was not initially to the total satisfaction of a Wembley audience that saw the team fall behind. That set-back compelled Fabio Capello's men to improve their work-rate and co-ordination. The adjustment was aided greatly by two goals from the substitute Peter Crouch on an evening that was more good-natured than might have been anticipated.
There was only a modest amount of booing for John Terry to endure at kick-off. Perhaps some members of the crowd felt that a statute of limitations ought to apply.
The match with Egypt had a certain prominence and it grew more absorbing when the visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute. A diagonal pass from Hosny Abdrabou on the left was flighted to Mohamed Zidan and, with Matthew Upson losing his balance, the Borussia Dortmund attacker shot past Robert Green efficiently.
England had been brisk at the start. With one man, in theory, asked to cover an entire flank for Egypt, there ought to have been scope for a winger. And when Theo Walcott sped clear in the fifth minute it looked like producing a result, but Frank Lampard’s drive was blocked.
There were other gaps to exploit, too, and with 13 minutes gone, Wayne Rooney turned smartly to feed Jermain Defoe. The attacker was rapidly challenged on what was an important occasion for him. He had not begun a match for his country since November 2008. The Spurs attacker will be regretful that he was taken off at the interval.
This match was open, with Egypt showing enterprise whenever feasible. England were not able to pin down the opposition before half-time, but there were bursts of encouragement for Capello.
Following a corner, for example, Lampard had an opportunity, only for his attempt to be hit into the turf so that it bounced up steeply to clear the bar. This, nonetheless, was at that juncture that had surely been too open and spontaneous for Capello’s taste. With a World Cup in the offing, England, on home turf, would have expected to be in control. Outnumbered in midfield, that command had been lacking.
Changes were expected from Capello, but an impact was necessary from those on the field. Michael Carrick took over from Lampard and Peter Crouch replaced Defoe. The incoming Tottenham attacker offered height to complement Rooney, yet this impact was not immediate. However, Carrick’s input was to rejuvenate the lacklustre England midfield and this performance has surely sent him way up the pecking order.
Good work by Carrick in the 56th minute saw Gerrard worked the ball to the right and Gareth Barry’s low cross was converted at the near post by Crouch.
There was, by then, a confidence and impetus to England. There were only sporadic concerns although the sight of Terry being outpaced in one episode suggested he has not quite regained the old knack of nipping danger in the bud. Attention was soon drawn from that as England took the lead. The Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary was unconvincing as he blocked an effort from one substitute James Milner and then failed to block the drive that followed from another substitute, Shaun Wright-Phillips, with 15 minutes left. Another goal followed from Crouch, although he looked off-side as he converted Wright-Phillips’ cut-back. England’s command, at least, was no longer in question.
ENGLAND: Green, Brown, Terry, Upson, Baines, Walcott (Wright-Phillips 57), Lampard (Carrick 46), Barry, Gerrard (Milner 73), Rooney (Cole 86), Defoe (Crouch 46). Subs not used: James, Warnock, Lescott, Shawcross, Beckham, Heskey, Downing, Hart.
EGYPT: El Hadari, Al-Muhammadi, Said (Salem 86), Fathi, Gomaa, Ghaly, Moawad (Abdelshafy 76), Hassan (Nagy 64), Abd Rabou, Zidan (Aboutreika 76), Ebdelmaby (Zaki 64). Subs not used: El Sayed, Fathallah, Tawfik, El Saka, Raouf, Eid, Hamdy. Booked: Fathi.
Referee: Carlos Manuel Torres (Paraguay)
