[30stone]

Well at least there weren’t any more injuries. This warm-up game against the local club side fell into the pattern of the previous friendlies: an inept first half by England followed by improvement after the break but a general sense that certain members of this team are struggling to shake off the bad old habits.

There is no question that the team look a completely different proposition with Wayne Rooney on the pitch. He came on at half-time with an unconvincing England 1-0 up, thanks to Jermain Defoe’s early goal, and made one for Joe Cole and volleyed in one for himself in the closing stages. Without him England look predictable, without wit between the lines of midfield and attack.


What else could be gleaned? On the weekend, Capello had said he wanted the players he would select against USA to get at least 45 minutes here. The joke was on us: everyone got 45 minutes except for Gareth Barry and David James (recuperating) and Joe Cole who had to soldier through the whole game.

Joe Hart started which with the first choice back four, suggesting he had nosed ahead of Rob Green while Emile Heskey partnered Rooney in the second half, suggesting the Aston Villa striker is ahead of Peter Crouch. The Tottenham pair of Crouch and Defoe did themselves no favours with a timid performance in the first half.

It all started well enough. Just a few minutes into the game and they were 1-0 up. Shaun Wright-Phillips, in the right-back position, slid the ball down the channel for Gerrard. The England captain had timed his run well and got to the by-line before pulling the ball back for Defoe to steer into the net.

So far so easy but moments later the Platinum Stars should have been level. The goalkeeper sent a huge punt downfield which Glen Johnson let bounce and then went shoulder-to-shoulder with his man as he went to clear. The referee awarded a penalty – a shocking decision - but Bradley Gobler wearing the No 23 presumably in honour of David Beckham, sent his effort flying over the bar in front of his hero.

The rest of the first half was insipid and at half-time Capello stayed on the pitch to issue instructions to his 10 substitutes. His message got through as there was much more intensity and purpose about the second-half England. Wayne Rooney was at the heart of England’s best stuff, almost scoring himself early on after side-stepping his man and shooting low at the keeper. He made England’s second though as, on the counter-attack, he slid in the unmarked Joe Cole who calmly passed the ball into the net.

The Platinum Stars did manage a couple of forward sallies against England’s second-string defence, one shot going just wide another well gathered by Green. Stephen Warnock might even have conceded another penalty for a clumsy attempted tackle in his own area but otherwise the local team looked tired. England grabbed their third in the closing stages. Warnock passed to James Milner whose left-foot cross was volleyed in by Rooney.

With the final whistle came the end of the phoney war. Next time England take to the pitch they do so in earnest, against USA on Saturday. It is always tempting to read too much into these warm-up games but judging by Capello’s anger during the first half he still feels some of his players are struggling to get the message. There are four clear days to make the final adjustments (and for Ledley King’s knees to recover) and then it all, finally, gets serious.



So, Defoe
Cole and Rooney all score to make it 3 - 0.


This team was supposedly out to get us (nothing against us - but to help south africa) according to some papers they were going to kick us off the park, and have players injured..

But they didnt really show any sign of that.

Good win