Switzerland 1 England 3 in Basel, September 2010.
Enter Shaqiri.
Getting in to the stadium, later than usual, was like the old days with lots of pushing and shoving in the teeming rain.
Enter Shaqiri.
Getting in to the stadium, later than usual, was like the old days with lots of pushing and shoving in the teeming rain.
Beforehand the Swiss waved their flags and some of our lot shook the fencing behind the goal.
Meanwhile the England team were excellent and well in control in the first half though somewhat less secure in the second period.
For goalie Hart it was more of a test and he looked nervy for a time but survived.
Not many would have stopped Shaqiri’s superb left foot effort even though Hart was unprepared for that quality of shot.
Both full backs made significant contributions to the victory.
Glen Johnson made the first goal for Rooney and Ashley Cole, who was a consistent threat, provided the pass for substitute Darren Bent to score England’s clinching third goal.
Milner, who didn’t have his best game, did force Lichtsteiner to be sent off thus making the game more open.
Though the home side did develop some pressure they left gaps at the back and another sub, Adam Johnson, rounded the goalkeeper for our second goal. He looks the part.
So perhaps a surprisingly easy away win although there were lessons to be learnt for some of the less experienced players.
At the end the rain had stopped and I took a tram back to the centre of Basel and another one to the French border from where I could walk across to my hotel for a nightcap.
Meanwhile the England team were excellent and well in control in the first half though somewhat less secure in the second period.
For goalie Hart it was more of a test and he looked nervy for a time but survived.
Not many would have stopped Shaqiri’s superb left foot effort even though Hart was unprepared for that quality of shot.
Both full backs made significant contributions to the victory.
Glen Johnson made the first goal for Rooney and Ashley Cole, who was a consistent threat, provided the pass for substitute Darren Bent to score England’s clinching third goal.
Milner, who didn’t have his best game, did force Lichtsteiner to be sent off thus making the game more open.
Though the home side did develop some pressure they left gaps at the back and another sub, Adam Johnson, rounded the goalkeeper for our second goal. He looks the part.
So perhaps a surprisingly easy away win although there were lessons to be learnt for some of the less experienced players.
At the end the rain had stopped and I took a tram back to the centre of Basel and another one to the French border from where I could walk across to my hotel for a nightcap.
