Match Summary

Russia Team

England Team

There were plenty of excuses after this defeat in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, but the hard fact is that England's European Championship hopes are now in ruins as they pray for a miracle.

On the unfamiliar artificial pitch England made a bright and positive start, and they were controlling things for long periods.  The back four stood up well to the Russian attack with Sol Campbell at his outstanding best.  Gareth Barry did a brilliant job in front of those defenders and it looked as though Steve McLaren had his tactics spot on.  It looked even better in the 29^th minute when England took the lead.  Micah Richards high ball forward was flicked on by Michael Owen for Wayne Rooney to power home a volley from just inside the penalty area.  It was a quality strike, although replays later suggested that he may have been a fraction offside.  No matter, the goal stood and England were in command.

England comfortably held the lead until the interval and three minutes after the break the game's most decisive moment came along.  Barry's free-kick found Steven Gerrard completely unmarked at the far post and he looked certain to score.  But, inexplicably the Liverpool captain dragged his shot wide and a golden chance to extend the lead was lost.  Five minutes later England created another great chance to wrap up the match when Gerrard's free-kick was flicked on by Rooney and Richards failed by a whisker to convert at the far post.  The England players were to rue these misses.

On 69 minutes another decisive incident went against England as Rooney chased back to challenge Konstantin Zyryanov down the left wing.  As they came together the Russian went down and unbelievably the referee gave a penalty to the home side.  Not only was it never a foul in the first place, but the incident also happened outside the penalty area.  McLaren looked to the heavens in disgust at what was a very poor decision.  But the penalty gave Russia the lifeline they desperately needed and Roman Pavlyuchenko made no mistake with the spot-kick.

It would be nice to report that England then went on to take control again, but alas the complete opposite happened and the nature of England's collapse from that moment on was very worrying indeed.  The previously composed defence suddenly panicked as the red Russian tide swept forward.  Their manager, Guss Hiddink, had spotted a couple of flaws in England's defence and his substitutions exposed those flaws brilliantly.  The game was crying out for McLaren to make some similar tactical substitutions himself, but alas by the time he did bring new players on Russia had the lead.  Only four minutes after Russia's equaliser the home side scored again.  This time Jolyeon Lescott gave Alexei Berezutsky too much room and the Russian was able to shoot far too easily.  Paul Robinson blocked the shot but failed to push it away from the danger area and Pavlyuchenko was first to react to score with ease.

There was no way back for an England team that now looked tired and jaded and all they can hope for now is that Israel can upset the odds and win against Russia.  From this evidence there is no way Hiddink will allow that to happen.

Source Notes

SportsIllustrated.com
BBC Sport
TheFA.com
UEFA.com
Soccerlens.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
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CG