England Edge out Sweden

England 1-0 Sweden

England wrapped up a pleasing 2011 in satisfactory fashion by beating Sweden 1-0 just days after defeating world champions Spain.

The sparsely populated crowd at Wembley witnessed Gareth Barry’s 23rd minute header brush Daniel Majstorovic to record England’s 2000th international goal.

In truth there was little else to celebrate as Fabio Capello reshuffled his pack dramatically from Saturday’s win to see his side get the better of the Swedes for the first time in over 40 years.

Kyle Walker’s full international debut – alongside returning skipper John Terry - was one to savour for the Spurs right back (above) who has as good a chance as anyone of cementing his place in that position in time for next summer.

Walker’s link up play with Theo Walcott showed signs of promise and looked far more inventive and fruitful than messrs Baines and Downing’s efforts on the opposite side.

The Merseyside based players seem to lack an extra gear with which to step up to against a Sweden side that created little and doubtless either Ashley’s, Cole or Young, will be too worried about their starting berths.

Despite Downing’s shortcomings (Adam Johnson must surely wonder what he has to do to get noticed), he did provide the ball for Barry to nod goalwards off Celtic defender Majstorovic past Andreas Isaksson – and the Liverpool winger was by no means the poorest of the front six. Bobby Zamora’s second England start yielded little more than the first and it is feasible that his international career could well be over.

His lack of mobility and spurning of occasional half chances means that Senor Capello is likely to look to other options, namely Bent, Sturridge and Welbeck to plug Wayne Rooney’s inevitable gap in the opening few games of Euro 2012.

On the day Rooney’s appeal date for a reduction of his initial three match ban was set for 9th December by UEFA, his club mate Phil Jones also caught the eye in central midfield alongside Jack Rodwell. The former nudged past the post after a lung-bursting run and the latter missed a couple of chances – the first a deflected left footed hook wide before grazing the outside of Isaksson’s post with a header when it was easier to score.

However, the pair were combative, energetic and tenacious. The pool with which the England boss has to choose from is increasing – and that may not be a good thing for some.

BST’s Expected England side for Game 1 at Euro 2012

Hart

Walker
Jones
Terry
Cole

Walcott
Gerrard
Parker
Barry
Young

Bent

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