England Vs Russia CNJ Report

A RUSSIAN corner after two and half minutes bode ill: swept in from the right, the ball from winger Yuri Zhirkov was poorly dealt with.
But for England’s under-pressure boss, Steve McClaren, it was a forewarning that he could choose to ignore.
This crucial European Championship qualifier was billed as a tough examination, but moments after the early scare, England tore forward showing they had not forgotten the fun they had had on Saturday against Israel. Emile Heskey’s bulk caused the Russian centre backs problems, the ball fell to Michael Owen and from 10 yards, the coolest striker of this team’s generation side-footed home.
Russia are no fools and Gus Hiddink’s team picked themselves up and dusted themselves off to pressure England. But with Rio Ferdinand and John Terry marshalling things at the back, and the speed of Micah Richards and Ashley Cole providing a fluidity to England when possession had been regained, we were watching a Premiership-style of play that opposition national sides always find hard to contend with.
For the following 15 minutes England and Russian were like two heavyweights circling, looking for the opening that would swing the game. It came to England with an exuberance that laid the foundations for real optimism.
It started with Russia feeling aggrieved, and taking their eyes off the ball. On 17 minutes, Konstantin Zyryanov found space in the England box and smashed home, but the referee had seen the forward use his arm to control the ball and gave England a free kick – a fact unnoticed by the boisterous away support, and slightly unnerving for their team.
Keeper Paul Robinson sent it up field, Heskey knocked it into Owen’s path and the striker’s super technique saw him wallop home from 25 yards.
It proved England are at their best when the pressure is on. They raise their game against tough opponents and, with the Wembley crowd providing a cup final atmosphere, every thing was in place.
But perhaps McClaren, through the enforced absentees, got lucky. He had a team where there were players playing to prove a point, and the so-called ‘fringe’; players, one by one, put in performances that if they are never picked again will be justifiable career highlights to tell their grandchildren about.
At the back Manchester City rookie Micah Richards made himself undroppable. His timing and anticipation meant there was never a threat in his defensive zone. His athleticism sent him regularly powering up the pitch in support of Shaun Wright-Phillips, giving the Chelsea man the extra space he needed to create opportunities.
In the centre, Gareth Barry, for so long over looked, provided a smothering blanket on Russian attacks, and never put a pass out of place. Owen Hargreaves and Frank Lampard cannot have helped but feel nervous. Once he had won the ball, it was staying in the possession of a player in white. His colleagues’ confidence in his defensive abilities was such that Steven Gerrard was able to drop into the box uninvited on numerous occasions – the only down note for England was he uncharacteristically scuffed two golden chances to turn the 3-0 scoreline into a rout.
Wright-Phillips took his good domestic form on to the international stage. Closer control and a willingness to offer options past the last defender gave his team mates an outlet when needed.
But the final word on the replacements has to go to Emile Heskey. His move to Wigan has reminded him how to play the game. Occasionally his lack of confidence was telling – at times he had the ball in space, and was content to lay it off to a team mate instead of stride forward.
But this awareness of his limitations provided a calming influence. Never a popular player with England fans, his standing ovation as he was subbed on 80 minutes was a testament to his hard work and uncomplicated play.
And the joy was capped when defender Rio Ferdinand found himself with a yard of space in the Russian box with five minutes remaining. He paused then jinked forward, sold his marker and dummy and buried it with a centre forward’s finish. It was all the England team deserved.
Russia had conceded just a solitary goal in their campaign so far – but on Wednesday night they had to contend with the predatory instincts of a rejuvenated Michael Owen.
Fears that the striker had lost pace since the World Cup knee injury that kept him out last year were unfounded – Owen’s double against Russia, coupled with his goal in the Israel match that pushed him up to 40 international goals, suggests that England’s talisman has, if anything, benefited from an enforced mid-career break.
Consider the case of Paul Scholes. He looked jaded until he had an eye problem that kept him out for six months. On his return, he brought an added keenness to his game. It seems Steve McClaren may well be the beneficiary in the end from having the country’s leading goalscorer unavailable for so long.
After the game McClaren spoke of ‘putting down markers’, ‘setting standards’, and ‘raising games’, and singled out Owen for praise.
“Owen has scored in the last four games for us now,” he said, a statistic he shared with relish.
“You can never write him off. He is fitter, sharper and not only with his goals – he is linking up, dropping in and working hard.”
And as if to say to the assembled reporters, who were ready with knives sharpened just a week ago that the seemingly questionable inclusion of Heskey had worked with bells on, he added in a deadpan voice: “His partnership with Heskey has really worked in the past two games.”
His facade of calmness did not last long.
“We’ll enjoy this,” said the beaming coach.
“But we will keep our feet on the ground. We have three games to go, and we can still get better.”
The headache now facing McClaren now is how he can slip his first choice players into a team that has learnt how to play like one again.

ENGLAND 3
Owen 7, 31, Ferdinand 84

RUSSIA 0
Attendance 86,106