Club Trip To England V Germany International Friendly
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22nd Aug 2007 |
England 1-2 Germany
International Friendly
8pm, Wednesday 22 August 2007
Wembley Stadium
Over fifty members of the Club took the advantage of getting their hands on tickets to watch the Senior England squad take on the the Germans at Wembley Stadium in the second of the Clubs visit to Wembley Stadium. What was to be a fantastic evening saw 86,133 spectators watch England narrowly defeated by the Germans with all the goals scored within the first half.
MATCH REPORT BELOW
The Three Lions opening game of the new season ended in disappointment as Germany came from behind to become the first visiting nation to win at the new Wembley stadium.
Steve McClaren’s side will rue the chances that fell by the wayside, but will certainly have some positives to take away as they look to the more important job of qualification for Euro 2008.
They shot out of the blocks with Joe Cole, in particular, causing all manner of concern to the German left hand side. England looked very bright, and up for their first game of the season and controlled the possession, passing well and keeping the ball away from Germany.
On the other side of the field, Micah Richards was giving Christian Pander problems. It was his run, leaving the Schalke defender swinging at thin air as he cut in from the right that set up Lampard on nine minutes. With one touch, the Chelsea man fired inside Jens Lehmann’s exposed near post for his 13th goal for his country.
The goal stunned German, but was certainly no more than England deserved, and they continued to pin Germany back. When the visitors did get the ball, they struggled to find rhythm, misplacing passes here and there.
But Joachim Low’s side found a bit of confidence when Christophe Meltzelder had first effort on goal midway through the half, heading wide from a corner. A couple of trademark Thomas Hitzlsperger shots soon followed. One with his left that only troubled the steward away to the left of Robinson’s goal, but his second go with his right was parried by Paul Robinson and hooked clear.
But the pressure paid when Bernd Schneider’s cross from wide on the right second later caught Robinson off guard at his near post. He could only palm away from the line to the waiting Kevin Kuranyi who pounced on the loose ball to roll over the line.
England had to start again, but didn’t drop their heads. Beckham’s free-kick just past the half hour was flicked on my Alan Smith at the near post, but was just in too far in front of Terry arriving in the middle. Then Lampard had another try but this time the Arsenal keeper had his angles covered.
Germany’s winner was a good one, the assist and the goal oozed class. Phillip Lahm, who shot to fame with the opening goal of the 2006 World Cup, played a neat reverse pass to Pander in space 25 yards out and he let rip sending his left foot drive beyond Robinson into the top corner.
Owen almost responded instantly directing a header towards goal from Alan Smith’s cross but Lehmann made the save at full stretch to prevent the Newcastle forward from adding to his 37 goal haul.
He had an even better chance on half time. Smith turned Lampard’s header into the six-yard box for Owen. Lehmann was first to it, but his unorthodox punch low down ricocheted off Owen’s body, but the ball rolled to a very tight angle for the Newcastle man and his turn and shot struck the side netting.
The second period brought about the expected changes, as Richards moved into the middle in place of Rio Ferdinand, with Wes Brown coming on at right back. David James also came on for Robinson to make his first appearance since June last year.
Though Germany had chances, he was largely untroubled, apart from a late Kuranyi strike which he tipped over the bar, but at the other end Lehmann was kept on his toes.
Joe Cole was again behind much of England’s offensive movement and he took a Nicky Shorey pass forward before firing low but wide of Lehmann’s post. Then the same pair linked up again, this time Shorey chipped delicately over the defence for Cole, but he was crowded out and his shot was gathered by Lehmann.
Beckham also provided substitute Kieron Dyer with two glorious opportunities. Bending a perfectly weighted pass around the German defence and into the path of West Ham’s new recruit, he reached the ball before Lehmann, but the German got a decisive touch to thwart him. Beckham then found space inside the box on the right and when many would have shot, he rolled across the six yard box as Dyer slid in, but his effort went agonisingly wide.
England had the chances to draw level, and perhaps even win it, but in the end it was Germany who went away with the smiles.
England: 1 Paul Robinson (13 David James), 2 Micah Richards, 3 Nicky Shorey, 4 Michael Carrick (15 Gareth Barry), 5 Rio Ferdinand (12 Wes Brown), 6 John Terry (c), 7 David Beckham, 8 Frank Lampard, 9 Alan Smith (21 Peter Crouch), 10 Michael Owen (17 Kieron Dyer), 11 Joe Cole (18 Shaun Wright-Phillips)
Substitutes not used: 22 Scott Carson, 14 Steven Taylor, 16 Phil Neville, 19 Stewart Downing, 20 Jermain Defoe
Goals: Lampard 9
Germany: 1 Jens Lehmann, 3 Arne Friedrich, 6 Christian Pander, 15 Thomas Hitzlsperger, 16 Philipp Lahm, 17 Per Mertesacker, 19 Bernd Schneider (c) (35 Gonzalo Castro), 21 Christoph Metzelder, 22 David Odonkor (34 Roberto Hilbert), 28 Piotr Trochowski (38 Simon Rolfes), 31 Kevin Kuranyi
Substitutes not used: 12 Timo Hildebrand, 40 Serdar Tasci, 37 Patrick Helmes, 33 Stefan Kießling
Goals: Kuranyi 26, Pander 40
Attendance: 86,133