By Simon Wright – Follow
me on Twitter @Siwri88
England put
in a battling performance in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening to earn
a valuable point in Ukraine and stay just about on track to reach the World Cup
finals in Brazil next summer.
It is a good
point for Roy Hodgson’s side that keeps them top of Group H, although there was
a worrying lack of quality in the final third as chances were at a premium for
both sides.
Hodgson now
knows victories at home to Montenegro on 11 October, and at home to Poland four
nights later will secure their berth in South America in 2014 as group
winners. Anything less would throw away
the initiative to either Ukraine or Montenegro.
It was James
Milner who won the nod over Ashley Young to start in place of the suspended
Danny Welbeck, and his experience was useful in an atmosphere that struggled to
captivate anyone in the stadium or watching at home on television.
Ukraine had
come into the game in great form, having won their last four qualifiers and
knowing that a victory would give them control in Group H. They started quickly in the first 10 minutes
and there was an early break for the visitors when Joe Hart lunged, missed the
ball and brought down Eugene Konopilanka in the very first minute. Experienced referee Pedro Proenca decided
against awarding a spot-kick and replays suggested it was a smart decision.
The Three
Lions best chance fell also early on to Theo Walcott. Walcott broke in behind the Ukrainian
backline and only a poor final touch meant he lost control of possession and
allowed goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov to smother the ball from close distance. That was as good as it got for England. Midfield centurion Frank Lampard missed a
late opportunity but in reality, England looked wasteful and clueless all night
in the final third.
It was an
untidy game with lots of fouls that meant the second half especially had no
flow to it. Captain Gerrard told ITV
afterwards: “It wasn’t a top-class
performance but we defended solidly and the result was never in doubt.
“They are a good side and they’ve
shown that by going away to beat Montenegro and Poland. Collectively as a team, we did the job.”
The home side
weren’t great either. Konopilanka had a
free-kick deflected wide in the 70th minute and central defender
Fedetskiy missed their best chance when he got a free header from six yards out
but could only find the gleeful arms of Hart.
Overall, the
70,000 in attendance saw a game that lacked real quality, but it is a very good
point for England in the circumstances.
The job isn’t done yet for Hodgson and the Three Lions, and it is going
to the distance. However, destiny
remains in England’s own hands. They are
in the driving seat. Only they can throw
it away now in Group H.
FINAL RESULT:
Ukraine 0-0
England
ENGLAND TEAM:
ENGLAND: Joe Hart, Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill,
Phil Jagielka, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere (Ashley Young 65),
Frank Lampard, James Milner, Theo Walcott (Tom Cleverley 87), Rickie Lambert
Unused subs: John Ruddy, Fraser Forster, Leighton
Baines, Chris Smalling, Ross Barkley, Andros Townsend, Michael Carrick, Raheem
Sterling, Jermain Defoe
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)
Attendance: 70,000
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