Match Summary

England entertained Denmark for their first fixture in this World Cup year, and the build-up was to start with a very low key friendly. It was a match that was a little tedious throughout, with Denmark desperate not to lose and England, at times, lacking the necessary guile to break them down. They did it in the end and a win is a win, but Roy Hodgson certainly has lots of work to do between now and when the tournament starts in Brazil during the summer.

There was a lovely moment before the start as there was a moment to reflect and remember three stalwarts of the game who had recently passed away, Denmark's Richard Moller Nielsen, former Wolves and England goalkeeper Bert Williams and the one and only Sir Tom Finney.  A minute's applause celebrated the immense contribution made by these legends.

The game itself began very slowly, with both teams feeling their way gently into the play.  There was lots of possession for England, but much of their passing went sideways across the pitch, and very little went forward.  It took a full 16 minutes before anyone had a shot at goal and that came when Michael Krohne-Dehli shot wide from a good position.  Raheem Sterling looked sharp and there were one or two promising moves down the right for England.  On 17 minutes great hustling by Steven Gerrard won possession and just as he was about to shoot he was brought down by Casper Sloth.  The free-kick was wasted by Wayne Rooney, who apparently had left his shooting boots at home, as, not for the first time on the night, his shot flew wildly over the bar.

Sterling's lovely pass gave Rooney the chance to beat Kasper Schmeichel to the ball, but again his attempt at goal was well off target.  Two minutes later and Gary Cahill had a chance following a Gerrard corner, but he too fired over the bar.  There were a few signs of England improving as the half wore on, but at the back there was a decidedly shaky look about the home defending, and there were one or two scares.  But on 32 minutes, good work by the lively Daniel Sturridge saw him shoot across goal, although unfortunately Rooney couldn't quite touch the ball in.  Six minutes later Rooney again shot hopelessly high, wide and not so handsome.  Almost immediately, Jakob Poulsen had Denmark's best chance when more inept defending allowed him a clear run at goal.  But Poulsen delayed his shot a fraction and England scrambled the ball clear.  Rooney continued to try and hit row Z with his shooting before England finally put a good move together down the left.  It ended with Ashley Cole firing in a low centre which just needed a touch from Sterling, but desperate defending and a scramble of legs saw the ball deflect on to a post before being cleared.  And then right on half-time a brilliant save by Schmeichel, reminiscent of his father at his best, saved the day as Sturridge looked certain to score.

England had just about had the better of a poor half and at the break Southampton's Luke Shaw replaced Cole at left-back for his first taste of full international football.  His first contribution was to be nutmegged!  Although after that inauspicious start the Saints star showed all the coolness and good play that has made him hot property.

On 55 minutes Sterling, lively throughout, and Shaw combined to send another dangerous ball into the box, but again there was nobody on the end of the cross.  At the other end Nicklas Bentner fired in a weak shot which Joe Hart easily saved.  Just before the hour mark Adam Lallana came on for Jack Wilshere, and immediately there was a bit more bite about England.  Rooney hit another poor free-kick into the wall, but Gerrard only just missed with a shot from the rebound.  The skipper had a very good game and he held everything together well, showing boundless energy and leading by example.

On the hour mark, not surprisingly, Rooney was substituted, with Danny Welbeck coming on, and it was not one of Rooney's more memorable England performances.  The game showed signs of warming up as Shaw and Lallana combined well, with Lallana showing terrific skills to get in a cross.  Then a great save by Hart, who dived bravely to block Morten Rasmussen's effort, after Denmark had created their best chance of the night.  This was followed by a Jordan Henderson shot out of the Wayne Rooney shooting catalogue.  But overall England were now well on top with both Lallana and Welbeck livening up the England attacking options.  On 71 minutes Schmeichel saved brilliantly from Welbeck and then four minutes later the goalkeeper did the same from an excellent snapshot by Sturridge.

Finally, after 82 minutes the breakthrough came, and the goal was completely out of character with what was a poor quality match.  A short corner was worked between Sterling and Lallana, and the Southampton man showed great skill in manoeuvring a position for a cross.  His pass was perfection and found Sturridge unmarked to head back across goal to beat Schmeichel all ends up.  It was a terrific goal, and one, on the balance of play, that England thoroughly deserved.

Only a late Denmark free-kick troubled Hart after that and a 1-0 win was about the right scoreline in the end.  There were some plusses for England on the night, but there were also some questions still to be answered.  There is still time for that though and it will be interesting to see the final make-up of the England party off to Rio.

One final thing, as a Preston North End fan of some 55 years, I have to say that the result would certainly have pleased Sir Tom Finney, as he was as passionate a supporter of England as anyone.  I had the honour and privilege of being able to spend some time in Tom's company on a number of occasions, and believe me, all the marvellous tributes and accolades that have been said and written about him since his death, couldn't have been more deserved or true.  The man really was a Football Legend and I was so proud to know him.
  

Source Notes