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San Marino

 
913 vs. San Marino
 

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937 vs. San Marino
Friday, 22 March 2013
2014 FIFA World Cup UEFA Group H qualification match

 
San Marino 0 England 8
 
[0-5]
 


San Marino is the 74th nation visited by England

Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle, Via Rancaglia, Serravalle
Kick-off (CET): 9.00pm 8.00pm GMT
Attendance: 4,952

Andy Selva won the toss
90 minutes
45:02 & 45:06
Wayne Rooney kicked-off
  [0-0] Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chip hits crossbar 9:42
[0-1] Alessandro Della Vella own goal 12 11:40
side-footed into his own net as he was aiming to clear Baines' cross
[0-2] Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 28 27:59
left-footed 12 yard shot into centre of the goal after a pass-back with Rooney
[0-2] Jermain Defoe scores from 5 yds 33:10:
wrongly disallowed for offside

[0-3] Jermain Defoe 35
34:48
tapped-in from 2 yards after Oxlade headed back across a Rooney chip
[0-4] Ashley Young 39 38:36
20-yard right-footed shot into top left corner of the goal from a Baines lay-off
[0-5] Frank Lampard 42 41:25
side-footed in with his right foot from 11 yards after Baines' goalline cross
  [0-6] Wayne Rooney free-kick 54 53:21
35-yard right-footed curling free-kick over the wall into bottom left corner
(Simoncini fouled Cleverley 52:03)

[0-7] Daniel Sturridge header 70 69:28
5-yard header into near post from a pinpoint Young cross
[0-8] Jermain Defoe back heel 77 76:45
5-yard right-footed tap-in from a Walker goalline pass
Davide Simoncini 53 52:09
Michele Cervellini
59
58:14
 
Commentator: Clive Tyldesley with Andy Townsend
 

Match Summary

Officials from Switzerland

San Marino Squad

Type

England Squad
Referee (yellow) - Alain Bieri
34 (13 March 1979), Bern, FIFA listed 2011.

Assistant Referees - Johannes Vogel, 36 (1 May 1976) and Raffael Zeder, 32 (10 August 1980).
Fourth official -
Adrien Jaccottet, 29 (19 July 1983), Basel, FIFA listed 2012.

1 Goal Attempts 28
0 Attempts on Target 19
0 Hit Bar/Post 1
1 Corner Kicks Won 15
2 Offside Calls Against 3
11 Fouls Conceded 8
17.1% Possession 82.9%

San Marino Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (14 March 2013) =207th
EFO ranking n/a
ELO rating 202nd
Colours: Made by Adidas - Blue v-neck jerseys with white side panel/adidas sleeve trim, blue shorts with white adidas side trim/hem, blue socks with white adidas trim.
Capt: Andy Selva
Danilo Rinaldi 75th minute
Manager: Giampaolo Mazza, 57 (26 February 1956 in Genova), appointed 1998.
San Marino Lineup
1 Simoncini, Aldo J. 26
204 days
30 August 1986 G AC Libertas 32 133ᵍᵃ
2 Vitaioli, Fabio 28
351 days
5 April 1984 CD SS Murata 27 0
3 Palazzi, Mirko 25
363 days
24 March 1987 LB AC Rimini 1912, Italy 9 0
4 Gasperoni, Alex 28
265 days
30 June 1984 RB SP Tre Penne 27 0
5 Della Valle, Alessandro 30
287 days
8 June 1982 CD SS Folgore Falciano Calcio 43 0
the 49th own goal scored for England
     
6 Simoncini, Davide 26
204 days
30 August 1986 CD AC Libertas 29 0
53rd min. after he lunged into Tom Cleverley 35-yards out. The free-kick was scored.
     
7 Vitaioli, Matteo 23
146 days
27 October 1989 LM FC Fiorentino 26 0
8 Bollini, Fabio, off 81st min. 29
184 days
19 September 1983 CM SP La Fiorita 13 0
9 Cervellini, Michele 24
342 days
14 April 1988 CM SS Pennarossa 18 0
59th minute for a dangerous tackle on Oxlade-Chamberlain near the half-way line.
     
10 Selva, Andy, off 75th min. 36
303 days
23 May 1976 CF FC Fidene, Italy 59 8
11 Cibelli, Enrico, off 68th min. 25
251 days
14 July 1987 RM SP Tre Penne 8 0
San Marino Substitutes
scoreline: San Marino 0 England 6
15 Buscarini, Lorenzo, on 68th min (67:22) for Cibelli 21
299 days
27 May 1991 LM SS Murata 4 0
scoreline: San Marino 0 England 7
18 Rinaldi, Danilo E., on 75th min (74:13) for Selva 26
338 days
18 April 1986 CF SP La Fiorita 9 1
scoreline: San Marino 0 England 8
19 Valentini, Carlo, on 81st min. (80:35) for Bollini 31
7 days
15 March 1982 CD SS Murata 39 0
result: San Marino 0 England 8
unused substitutes: 12-Federico Valentini, 13-Simone Bacciocchi, 14-Alessandro Bianchi, 16-Matteo Coppini, 17-Alex Della Valle, 20-Damiano Vannucci.
team notes: Aldo and Davide Simoncini are twins
 
5-4-1 A.Simoncini -
Gasperoni,
F.Vitaioli, D.Simoncini, Della Valle, Palazzi -
Cibelli
(Buscarini), Cervellini, Bollini (Valentini), M.Vitaioli -
Selva
(Rinaldi)
Averages (Starting XI): Age 28 years 0 days Appearances/Goals 26.5 0.7

 

England Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (14 March 2013) 4th
EFO ranking Group 1 (2nd)
ELO rating 6th
Colours: The 2012 home uniform - White v-neck collared jerseys with red piping on collar, white shorts with red trim, white socks with two-tone red hoop.
Capt: Frank Lampard
(fourth (8) captaincy (2)).
Joleon Lescott 67th minute.
Manager: Roy Hodgson, 65 (9 August 1947), appointed 1 May 2012,
14th match, W 9 - D 4 - L 1 - F 33 - A 11.
England Lineup
1 Hart, C. Joseph J. 25
337 days
19 April 1987 G Manchester City FC 29 21ᵍᵃ
2 Walker, Kyle A. 22
298 days
28 May 1990 RB Tottenham Hotspur FC 5 0
3 Baines, Leighton J. 28
101 days
11 December 1984 LB Everton FC 15 1
4 Cleverley, Thomas W., off 56th min. 23
222 days
12 August 1989 LCM Manchester United FC 8 0
5 Lescott, Joleon P. 30
218 days
16 August 1982 CD Manchester City FC 25 1
6 Smalling, Christopher L. 23
120 days
22 November 1989 CD Manchester United FC 5 0
7
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexander M.D. 19
219 days
15 August 1993 RM Arsenal FC 10 2
8
Lampard, Frank J., off 67th min 34
275 days
20 June 1978 RCM Chelsea FC 95 27
9
Defoe, Jermain C. 30
166 days
7 October 1982 LF Tottenham Hotspur FC 53 19
10 Rooney, Wayne M., off 56th min. 27
149 days
24 October 1985 RF

Manchester United FC 80 33
27th England free-kick scored (Rooneys 1st) & fifth time 2fk's scored in a season the 16th player to reach this milestone
     
11 Young, Ashley S. 27
256 days
9 July 1985 LM Manchester United FC 28 7
England Substitutes
scoreline: San Marino 0 England 6
22 Sturridge, Daniel A., on 56th min (55:01) for Rooney 23
202 days
 
1 September 1989
 
RF
 
Liverpool FC 5
 
0 1
 
5
 
74th substitute goal scored the 64th Liverpool player to represent England
     
20 Osman, Leon, on 56th min. (55:04) for Cleverley 31
309 days
17 May 1981 CM Everton FC 2 1 0
1
final app 2012-13
12 Parker, Scott M., on 67th min (66:02) for Lampard 32
160 days
13 October 1980 CM Tottenham Hotspur FC 18 13 0
5
final app 2003-13
result: San Marino 0 England 8
unused substitutes: 13-Ben Foster, 14-Ashley Cole, 15-Steven Taylor, 16-Steven Caulker, 17-James Milner, 18-Steven Gerrard, 19-Michael Carrick, 21-Daniel Welbeck, 23-Fraser Forster.
team notes: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's father, Mark Chamberlain, also played for England (1982-84).
records: England have now gone fourteen qualification matches unbeaten (W9 D5).
First eight-goal victory since they did so against Turkey in October 1987.
Daniel Sturridge became the 25th player to score their first England goal as a substitute. There had been seven debutants, and Sturridge was the eighteenth capped substitute. His goal was also the fiftieth goal to be scored on a Friday.
The 23rd goal scored by a substitute in qualification history.
 
4-4-2 Hart -
Walker, Smalling, Lescott, Baines -
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lampard
(Parker), Cleverley (Osman), Young -
Rooney
(Sturridge), Defoe
Averages (Starting XI): Age 26 years 283 days Appearances/Goals 32.1 7.8

 

    Match Report by Mike Payne

England had the perfect warm-up match for their vital group game coming up against Montenegro in four days time, when they travelled to the International scene's poorest side San Marino.  In the past England haven't always been as efficient as they should be in a game like this, but this time there was no argument as Roy Hodgson's side did everything that they had to do.

Right from the start England played the ball around neatly and crisply and stretched the home defence.  San Marino set themselves up with a bank of four players in front of a back five with the sole intention of keeping the scoreline respectable.  But England were not to be denied and they were soon peppering Aldo Simoncini's goal.  In the first five minutes England forced several corners and they almost scored on six minutes, as captain for the night Frank Lampard saw his shot pushed around the post by the goalkeeper.  The pressure continued apace and Ashley Young won yet another corner, but the nearest we came to the opening goal came when Wayne Rooney headed a deep cross down for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.  Unfortunately the ball bounced a little higher than Oxlade-Chamberlain would have liked but the Arsenal player still managed to clip a lob over the keeper, but the ball bounced onto the top of the crossbar.  At this stage it was all England and two minutes later they took a deserved, if somewhat fortuitous lead.

A lovely long pass from Lampard found the lively Leighton Baines scampering down the left wing.  He hit a first time cross into the middle towards Rooney, but the striker never had the chance to score as home defender Alessandro Della Vella beat him to it, deflecting the ball past his own goalkeeper.  Aldo Simoncini was a little lucky a few minutes later when he handled the ball outside his area, only for the officials to offer no punishment.  Maybe they were showing a little leniency, knowing what might be following!

Jermaine Defoe was the next player to miss a good chance and it was the marauding Baines who seemed to be the best avenue of attack for England.  The San Marino defenders were making some desperate interceptions and clearances as England's pressure continued.  If there was a criticism then it was in the fact that many corners appeared to be wasted by England with hardly any headers being won in the box.  But San Marino's players were all puffing and blowing after just 25 minutes and three minutes later England scored a good goal to make it 2-0.  Brilliant inter-passing between Rooney and Oxlade-Chamberlain ended with the latter firing home a fierce shot.  The goal meant that he had passed his Dad's total of one goal, so he will be able to have family bragging rights from now on!  Actually Oxlade-Chamberlain was one of the stars of the night for England and he had a hand in much of the best of England's play.

Kyle Walker was able to stride forward and join the attack on many occasions, and on 33 minutes Defoe found the net only for an offside decision to rule out the goal.  But that was only a temporary respite for the home side and two minutes later England increased their lead.  Rooney's chip to the far post was headed across goal by Oxlade-Chamberlain and it left the predatory Defoe with a very easy tap-in from two yards out.

There was no let up for San Marino and a jinking run and shot from Lampard in the 38th minute was only saved at the second attempt by Aldo Simoncini.  Then, a minute later, England made it 4-0 with the goal of the game.  Young and Baines exchanged passes, and Young took one touch before firing in a tremendous shot from 25 yards out which absolutely flew into the top corner with the goalkeeper helpless.  It was a goal worthy of beating a much better side than San Marino.  There was still time for England to add a fifth goal to their total before the break.  Super play down the left eventually found Baines and once again the full-back played the ball inside.  Rooney dummied the pass and there was Lampard to continue his rich vein of scoring of late with an excellent side-footed finish.  The half ended with England totally and utterly dominant in every facet of the game and the only problem might be that the second half would see an easing off of the peddle from England.

However, Hodgson's England side would never let that happen and it was the same pattern from the first whistle after the restart.  Four minutes into the half Rooney hit a good shot that was tipped over, but the Manchester United striker was not going to be denied a goal in this high scoring win.  On 54 minutes England were awarded a free-kick just outside the box after a foul on Tom Cleverley.  Despite the presence of Baines, Rooney made it clear that only one player was going to take that particular kick.  He didn't waste it and curled his shot over the wall and into the bottom corner of the net with the keeper nowhere to be seen!

Both Rooney and Cleverley were taken off shortly after that, with Tuesday's match in Montenegro in mind no doubt, but it did not adversely affect England's attacking play with Daniel Sturridge and Leon Osman coming on.  In fact it was Sturridge who was next to go close as Oxlade-Chamberlain's deep cross found Sturridge leaping to head against a post.

Shortly after that attack there was a remarkable incident at the other end as San Marino mustered there first shot at goal.  Joe Hart had fluffed a clearance a little and Fabio Bollini decided to fire in a shot.  Behind the goals at this ground is what can only be described as parkland, with grassy banks and trees!  Bollini managed to hit one of those trees, probably disturbing a few San Marino squirrels in the process.

After that memorable moment it was business as usual and both Sturridge and Oxlade-Chamberlain went close to adding further goals for England.  Osman shot wide, San Marino won a corner, and Scott Parker came on for Lampard, with Lescott taking the captain's armband as the game moved on.

Then on 70 minutes more good play by England produced a seventh goal.  Defoe and Young combined well again and Young produced a perfect chipped cross for Sturridge to head home at the far post for his first England goal.  Walker was still breaking dangerously and the other full-back Baines saw a free-kick parried away.  With 13 minutes to go brilliant play between Oxlade-Chamberlain, my man of the match by the way, and Walker, ended with another simple tap-in for Defoe, who scored his second of the match.  Indeed in the final minutes Defoe could and should have completed his hat-trick but missed two good chances.  No matter, in the end it was a very good professional performance by England and you really could not fault the application and the execution of their task.  Now it is onwards and upwards to Podgorica for the next exciting installment of this World Cup adventure.
  

Source Notes

TheFA.com
BBC Sport
smtvsanmarino.sm
FIFA.com
RateTheRef.com

Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
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