 |
|
|
|
BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX
© All written site content is copyright ComeOnBoro.com 2004-2007, unless otherwise stated, and is not to be used without prior permission. |
|
TERRY PLEASED WITH ENGLAND WIN
John Terry looked back with pride on his first competitive match as England skipper and declared: "Mission accomplished."
Terry's side went into the match with lofty expectations and although their 5-0 victory did not represent the avalanche of goals predicted in some quarters, it was a handsome win for Steve McClaren's men.
It also sets England up nicely for the first testing encounter of their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in Macedonia on Wednesday.
"We were on a hiding to nothing," said Terry.
"Everyone expected us to win and we knew, if we did things right, we would come away with the right result, a few goals and a clean sheet, which we did.
"Andorra made it really difficult for us because they got everyone behind the ball, committed a lot of fouls and tried to time-waste.
"But we have come out of the game with five goals, three points and no injuries. We would certainly have taken that before the game."
Terry was particularly pleased with the way the team adapted to a three-man defence as McClaren made tactical changes in the second half.
"It is important when we get opportunities like that we use them," said the Chelsea defender.
"We changed formation and it is nice coming away having tried something like that. If we have to use it in the future, it means we are prepared."
Although Andorra took four points off Macedonia in the qualifiers for the last World Cup, England's 2-2 draw with the Eastern Europeans at Southampton four years ago is still relatively fresh in the memory.
"Wednesday's game will be a very different to this one," said Terry.
"Macedonia is a hostile place to go and their fans will be up for it. We have to go there, concentrate on our own game and make a good start.
"It is an away game and it is time for myself and the other lads in the team to show some resilience. I am sure we will do that."
Terry, meanwhile has been defended by Terry Venables after accusations of diving from Blackburn manager Mark Hughes.
The Rovers boss claimed Terry went down too easily under a challenge from Andre Ooijer to win Chelsea a penalty at Ewood Park last Sunday, allowing Frank Lampard to open the scoring from the penalty spot in a 2-0 win.
Hughes said: "John Terry is aware Andre is closely marking him and knows the referee is looking at him and then decides to collapse his knees. He falls in a heap and that is what the referee has seen."
But Venables, McClaren's number two in the England set-up, dismissed the notion that Terry would cheat to gain an advantage.
"There is about as much chance of England's captain taking a dive as there would be of Mark putting on that act in his heyday," Venables told the News of the World.
"Neither is, or was, scared to take a battering. So I do not believe for one second that Terry dived to win Chelsea a penalty at Blackburn last week."
Ooijer appeared to wrap his arms around Terry as the pair jostled for space in the penalty area, and Venables is pleased to see referees taking action against such fouls, which have often gone unpunished.
Venables added: "Whether Terry went over or not, what Ooijer was doing in holding him with both arms are he made a run for a free-kick was a clear penalty offence.
"What it needs is 20 more like it to be given next weekend, then maybe players will kick this habit and get back to the art of defending."
By Bettingzone.co.uk Used with permission.
ENGLAND v ANDORRA & MACEDONIA MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
Sitemap || Search Site || Terms and Privacy || Set as Homepage || Bookmark Site |
| This website designed, maintained and managed by Waking Lion ©2004-2008 |