Match Summary

Lithuania Team

England Team

England travelled to Vilnius to play their final group match of the European Championship hoping that they could create a very proud record of "ten out of ten" in the qualifiers. The fact that they achieved their goal with many of their star names missing says a good deal about the character and quality of the squad. In fact this match was totally dominated by the visitors and the result never really looked in doubt.

Roy Hodgson made several changes, mostly enforced, but after a slow start that players selected gradually warmed to their task. First of all they had to adapt to the 3G artificial surface that Lithuania use in this stadium, and it was not easy to judge the pace of the pass or the speed of the ball off the surface. But gradually England began to acclimatise and assert their authority. On ten minutes Harry Kane had the first of several shots saved by the impressive Watford goalkeeper, Giedrius Arlauskis, in the home goal. Four minutes later it was Kane again, this time on the end of a good breakaway by England, but again the goalkeeper was equal to it.

Patience was going to be an important ingredient of England's work on the night and they kept possession well. To be honest Lithuania were a poor side, and they rarely ventured out of their own half, instead inviting England on to them. This was really a recipe for disaster for Lithuania because it was only ever going to be a matter of time before England scored. On 23 minutes a good turn and shot by Kane was parried by the goalkeeper, but Jamie Vardy was not quite quick enough to capitalise on the rebound. There was a real duel going on between Arlauskis and Kane and who would be the winner was still open to doubt at this stage. Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tried to expose the home defence down the flanks, but the quality of crosses was not up to the standard required, although it must be said the pitch had something to do with that.

With 29 minutes on the clock England finally found the breakthrough. Patient build up play saw Ross Barkley gain possession. He jinked inside, created some space for himself, and fired in a fierce shot. The ball took a deflection off the back of Tomas Mikuckis and went into the net off the post. This time Arlauskis had no chance.

England sensed a kill as they continued to push forward, and Vardy's dangerous cross-cum-shot caused more danger for the overworked defenders. But the visitors still had to be on their guard and they were given a warning in the 34th minute when Lukas Spalvis broke down the inside-left channel and fired in a good cross shot aimed at the far post. Jack Butland in goal was alert to the danger though and made a good save as he tipped the ball around the post. A minute later and it was 2-0 to England.

This time Kane and Lallana worked a one-two in the box and Kane's left-foot shot struck the inside of the near post and rebounded into the net off the back of the unfortunate Arlauskis. The official verdict was an own goal by the goalkeeper, but the seemed very harsh on Kane, who was the one who beat the keeper with his shot. Nevertheless the goal gave England complete control of the game.

The last ten minutes of the half saw England create more openings as Kane, Jonjo Shelvey and Vardy all had chances to add to the score. All the players were contributing well for England and the 2-0 half-time lead was the least they deserved.

The second half was a little tedious to be honest, understandable considering England's dominance, not only in this match but in the group too. Arlauskis continued to shine for Lithuania as Kane again went close, and then a dangerous corner was scrambled away. In the 52nd minute Oxlade-Chamberlain broke down the right and pulled the ball back perfectly for Kane. The Tottenham striker fired in a good shot, which was brilliantly parried by the goalkeeper, but from the rebound Kane had another chance to finish it. This time his half-hit shot struck Georgas Friedgeimas as the defender stuck out a leg and the ball was deflected clear.

At the back for England, Phil Jagielka, a proud captain for the first time and Phil Jones went about their business coolly and efficiently, although they were never really put under too much pressure. Jonjo Shelvey fired a long range effort over as the attacks went forward again, and when Kane went off Danny Ings came on to make a lively debut appearance. Just after an hour had gone England increased their lead. Oxlade-Chamberlain lost possession as he darted into the box but the ball ran for Kyle Walker who promptly gave it back to the Arsenal winger. This time he made no mistake and fired in his fifth goal for his country.

Roy Hodgson then gave some game time to Deli Alli and Andros Townsend, but after Barkley and Lallana went off the play was more scrappy than before, although England remained very much on top. Ings fired in a good shot, which was saved, and then the same player almost reached a pass by Vardy after good play by Alli and Walker. It was all to easy for England who completely outclassed their opponents, in fact it was a little too easy at times and sloppiness crept into England's play. There was one noteworthy incident when Lithuania were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Shelvey charged down the kick a little too early for the ref's liking and received a yellow card for his trouble. When the free-kick was lined up again, Vardy did the same, and the ref dished out the same treatment to him too. Luckily those cards are now wiped clean as we move onto the finals. The final chance of the match fell to Vardy but his header was not not strong enough.

So the magic ten wins out of ten was achieved, and despite the 'weaker' opposition England can be rightly proud of their record in the group stage. Now all thoughts turn to the finals next year in France, although before that England have some very juicy friendlies to look forward to. It will be interesting to see how they perform against a better standard of opponent, just to see how far they have come since their dismal World Cup showing. Oh, and one other thing, how does Kane's goal become an 'own goal' and yet Barkley's goal took a huge deflection off a defender, and the goalkeeper got two hands to Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot, only to help it into the net? That bugs me, and as far as I'm concerned it was Kane's goal!
  

Source Notes