Post by dreamy on Aug 24, 2007 4:48:13 GMT 10
I just had to post this as I'm a really happy girl at the moment... ;D
England in a flap again after Robinson gift
SIMON STONE
AT WEMBLEY
England 1 Lampard (9)
Germany 2 Kuranyi (26), Pander (40)
ENGLAND head coach Steve McClaren refused to rule Paul Robinson out of his European Championship plans despite another howler last night from the Tottenham goalkeeper.
Robinson, whose air-shot blunder condemned England to defeat against Croatia last year, gifted Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi a first-half equaliser as England slumped to their first defeat at the new Wembley.
He parried a cross by captain Bernd Schneider back into play rather than knocking it over the crossbar to safety and left Kuranyi with the simple task of tapping the ball in for his fifth goal in six internationals.
Robinson was substituted at half-time, with Portsmouth's David James taking his place, but McClaren said: "I was disappointed with the way we conceded that goal. It may have been a mistake, but there were two or three mistakes before that.
"I'm disappointed with the goals, but this isn't a night to publicly state anything about the team in the future. I can't make any public comments about any of the keepers or any of the outfield players."
Frank Lampard, who had suffered abuse from England supporters in recent matches, gave England the lead after just nine minutes. But once Kuranyi had cashed in on Robinson's mistake, England's defence again cracked and allowed Christian Pander to score the winner for Germany with a spectacular 25-yard strike.
McClaren said: "In the first 20 minutes, until we let them back in the game, we were excellent overall. We created chances and on another night would have tucked them away."
He also backed Michael Owen, who has played just 20 minutes for Newcastle this season, to be match-sharp in time for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia. Owen was replaced by Kieron Dyer and Alan Smith by Liverpool's Peter Crouch just before the hour mark, and McClaren said: "For Michael Owen that was his first start and against Germany at Wembley is a tough match to come into. In two or three weeks with games under his belt he will be sharper.
"That was an ideal game for us, tough and hard. For some of the players it was their fourth game in ten days. I was delighted with the majority of the performance. I was disappointed with the goals we conceded and that we didn't take more of the chances. We started the second half poorly and that's why we changed the front two. We livened things up and had a good spell but then we dipped again."
Germany coach Joachim Loew was understandably delighted. "There are very few places in the world where winning is such a good experience," he said with a smile. "My players are dancing happily in the dressing room.
"We decided to play Kevin Kuranyi as a lone striker and he was supported by excellent skills and intelligent players. Let me also single out Christian Pander. He had a very good performance and scored a lovely goal. For the first 20 minutes we showed too much respect to England, but the equaliser was a big help and we started to play with much more courage and in the end we dominated the game."
Loew was without most of his first-choice team, captain Michael Ballack heading a long injury list that also contained Bastian Schweinsteiger, and striker Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.
England, who were also missing several players including Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Owen Hargreaves, opened the scoring after good work by teenage right-back Micah Richards after nine minutes. The Manchester City player beat Pander to set up Lampard, and the Chelsea midfielder lashed the ball past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann for his 13th international goal in 56th appearances.
Germany levelled through Kuranyi after 26 minutes following Robinson's mistake. "I am disappointed with the way I played," said the goalkeeper. "I think I took up a reasonable position for the ball to be crossed and was unlucky on two counts. The first was when the ball ended up in the top left corner from the touchline and after managing to get it out, it's gone straight to their player. People won't show sympathy and you can understand why, so I'm hurting."
Pander put Germany in front five minutes before half-time, but England carried the game to Germany after the break and went close to an equaliser when David Beckham, winning his 97th cap, crossed for substitute Kieron Dyer to shoot wide from close range. Kuranyi went close for Germany again and Owen worked hard to find an equaliser to no avail.
England: Robinson (James 46), Richards, Ferdinand (Brown 46), Terry, Shorey, Beckham, Carrick (Barry 55), Lampard, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 70), Smith (Crouch 57), Owen (Dyer 57). Subs not used: Taylor, Neville, Downing, Defoe, Carson.
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Odonkor (Hilbert 54), Schneider (Castro 90), Hitzlsperger, Pander, Trochowski (Rolfes 72), Kuranyi. Subs not used: Hildebrand, Kiessling, Helmes, Tasci.
Attendance: 86,133
Referee: Massimo Puscaba (Switzerland).
sport.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1336912007
England in a flap again after Robinson gift
SIMON STONE
AT WEMBLEY
England 1 Lampard (9)
Germany 2 Kuranyi (26), Pander (40)
ENGLAND head coach Steve McClaren refused to rule Paul Robinson out of his European Championship plans despite another howler last night from the Tottenham goalkeeper.
Robinson, whose air-shot blunder condemned England to defeat against Croatia last year, gifted Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi a first-half equaliser as England slumped to their first defeat at the new Wembley.
He parried a cross by captain Bernd Schneider back into play rather than knocking it over the crossbar to safety and left Kuranyi with the simple task of tapping the ball in for his fifth goal in six internationals.
Robinson was substituted at half-time, with Portsmouth's David James taking his place, but McClaren said: "I was disappointed with the way we conceded that goal. It may have been a mistake, but there were two or three mistakes before that.
"I'm disappointed with the goals, but this isn't a night to publicly state anything about the team in the future. I can't make any public comments about any of the keepers or any of the outfield players."
Frank Lampard, who had suffered abuse from England supporters in recent matches, gave England the lead after just nine minutes. But once Kuranyi had cashed in on Robinson's mistake, England's defence again cracked and allowed Christian Pander to score the winner for Germany with a spectacular 25-yard strike.
McClaren said: "In the first 20 minutes, until we let them back in the game, we were excellent overall. We created chances and on another night would have tucked them away."
He also backed Michael Owen, who has played just 20 minutes for Newcastle this season, to be match-sharp in time for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia. Owen was replaced by Kieron Dyer and Alan Smith by Liverpool's Peter Crouch just before the hour mark, and McClaren said: "For Michael Owen that was his first start and against Germany at Wembley is a tough match to come into. In two or three weeks with games under his belt he will be sharper.
"That was an ideal game for us, tough and hard. For some of the players it was their fourth game in ten days. I was delighted with the majority of the performance. I was disappointed with the goals we conceded and that we didn't take more of the chances. We started the second half poorly and that's why we changed the front two. We livened things up and had a good spell but then we dipped again."
Germany coach Joachim Loew was understandably delighted. "There are very few places in the world where winning is such a good experience," he said with a smile. "My players are dancing happily in the dressing room.
"We decided to play Kevin Kuranyi as a lone striker and he was supported by excellent skills and intelligent players. Let me also single out Christian Pander. He had a very good performance and scored a lovely goal. For the first 20 minutes we showed too much respect to England, but the equaliser was a big help and we started to play with much more courage and in the end we dominated the game."
Loew was without most of his first-choice team, captain Michael Ballack heading a long injury list that also contained Bastian Schweinsteiger, and striker Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.
England, who were also missing several players including Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Owen Hargreaves, opened the scoring after good work by teenage right-back Micah Richards after nine minutes. The Manchester City player beat Pander to set up Lampard, and the Chelsea midfielder lashed the ball past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann for his 13th international goal in 56th appearances.
Germany levelled through Kuranyi after 26 minutes following Robinson's mistake. "I am disappointed with the way I played," said the goalkeeper. "I think I took up a reasonable position for the ball to be crossed and was unlucky on two counts. The first was when the ball ended up in the top left corner from the touchline and after managing to get it out, it's gone straight to their player. People won't show sympathy and you can understand why, so I'm hurting."
Pander put Germany in front five minutes before half-time, but England carried the game to Germany after the break and went close to an equaliser when David Beckham, winning his 97th cap, crossed for substitute Kieron Dyer to shoot wide from close range. Kuranyi went close for Germany again and Owen worked hard to find an equaliser to no avail.
England: Robinson (James 46), Richards, Ferdinand (Brown 46), Terry, Shorey, Beckham, Carrick (Barry 55), Lampard, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 70), Smith (Crouch 57), Owen (Dyer 57). Subs not used: Taylor, Neville, Downing, Defoe, Carson.
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Odonkor (Hilbert 54), Schneider (Castro 90), Hitzlsperger, Pander, Trochowski (Rolfes 72), Kuranyi. Subs not used: Hildebrand, Kiessling, Helmes, Tasci.
Attendance: 86,133
Referee: Massimo Puscaba (Switzerland).
sport.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1336912007
