England with Beckham beat Estonia
European Championship Qualification Chances Improve as Owen Scores
David Beckham and Michael Owen returned to help England to victory over Estonia in the Euro 2008 qualification game and ensured manager Steve McLaren retained his post.
David Beckham and Michael Owen's return to international football has helped England to remain in the battle to qualify for the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland next summer. The Euro 2008 competition opens in Basle on 7th June next year. The win over Estonia has also ensured the England manager, Steve McLaren, had retained his post for a little longer.
England had a comfortable victory over Estonia, the team which had made Group E leaders, Croatia, fight all the way for their single goal victory the previous weekend. Beckham who is due to leave Real Madrid in the summer to play for LA Galaxy in the American Major League Soccer, showed his commitment to the England cause by shaking off a knock to his ankle that he received in the first half, to come out after half-time and produce the creativity that his country required.
Comfortable England Victory
England were in control throughout the first half and took the lead eight minutes before half-time when Joe Cole finished after a Wayne Bridge throw in had been flicked on by Peter Crouch.
Concerns at half-time about Beckham’s fitness was allayed when he returned for the second half and proceeded to deliver the type of cross for which he is famed and which cause opposition defences so much bother. After nine minutes a long cross from the right was perfect for Crouch to head in. Crouch with six goals for England this season is the team’s highest scorer. He has scored twelve gaols for his country from nineteen appearances but a late booking will see him miss the game against Israel in September.
Michael Owen with his first goal since his return from injury in the final few weeks of the season completed England’s victory. Again David Beckham supplied the cross which eluded the Estonian defenders for Owen to bundle it in at the far post.
Group E:
England remain in fourth place in the group but with Croatia and Russia drawing their qualifying game in Zagreb, the gap between fourth and first has been reduced to three points. Israel’s two goal win against bottom team Andorra has them sharing top spot with Croatia on seventeen points although Israel have played an extra game. Russia in third have fifteen points with England a further point behind.
England have their destiny in their own hands with five games remaining. They have home fixtures with all of their main rivals plus the return home game with Estonia. Their only away game is their match against in Russia. These matches against their main opponents will be real ‘six pointers’ as victory will strengthen England’s position while diminishing the aspirations of their opponents.
Relieved Manager
Steve McLaren has recovered some of the ground lost with disappointing results in Croatia and Israel earlier in the year. However, the success was achieved against Estonia, a team which has failed to score a goal in any of its seven qualifying games, and he still has a lot of work to do before qualification is guaranteed so he will be hoping that David Beckham will maintain his current form and reproduce it when faced with more demanding opponents.
