Match Summary

San Marino Team

England Team

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