Photo : PA/telegraph.co.uk
Roy Hodgson has always enjoyed Switzerland; their former manager found his England tenure reinvigorated with this gutsy and deserved victory secured by Danny Welbeck’s second-half brace. Given the ease of the Euro 2016 qualifying group, England are almost on the Eurostar.
England played with pace, with spirit, with precision when Welbeck went straight for goal after the break. Hodgson was indebted to strong performances from Joe Hart, who made two superb saves, from Gary Cahill, who made a marvelous sliding clearances to prevent a sure goal, while Wayne Rooney was far more effective, working hard, helping create Welbeck’s first goal with the excellent Raheem Sterling. Welbeck was terrific.
Even before Welbeck struck just before the hour, England had enjoyed moments of real promise, playing far better than in the World Cup and in last week’s friendly against Norway. The move that brought Welbeck’s goal, the ball shifted superbly between Raheem Sterling and Wayne Rooney and then Sterling again, thrilled Hodgson, who punched the air. He’d spent most of the game in his dug-out, cutting a more involved, animated figure.
All eyes had been on Hodgson, assessing how he could handle England’s hardest Euro 2016 qualifier. John Terry was in the Sky studio, giving his verdict. England fans had been out in force, chanting their support of Hodgson and spilling over from the away corner, spreading all around the ground. One group of Crystal Palace fans even took up residency by the halfway line where their “South Croydon” banner will at least have made Hodgson feel at home.
The England manager’s tactics had immediately came under scrutiny, initially unfavourably until his players settled. The tempo was certainly good in the first half, England counter-attacking briskly and they should have scored. They had three shots on target in the first half and – whisper it around Hodgson – an improvement on the Norway game.
Hodgson had tweaked the formation from that friendly, lining the team up in a diamond with Jack Wilshere holding, a substantial gamble as the Arsenal midfielder possesses many qualities, mainly creative. He is not a natural ball-winner, too often stretching into tackles.
It was hard to imagine Arsene Wenger sitting at home, thinking why he had not considered Wilshere as Arsenal’s Makelele. Wilshere is better alongside a Mikel Arteta, pushing on, attacking. Jordan Henderson, wearing No 4, was the man pushed right, although frequently tucking in to help Wilshere.
Wilshere did grow into the role as the scoreless first half wore on. He was replaced midway through the second half for James Milner, having put in an improving shift.
On the left of the diamond was Delph, making his first international start which threatened to become a brief experience. In possession, Delph was good, completing all of his 23 first-half passes but chasing the ball, challenging fast-moving Swiss opponents he bordered on a liability at times.
Far too nervous, almost as if trying too hard to make an impression, the Aston Villa midfielder dived into tackles, bringing down Valon Behrami, remarkably escaping a booking, and then hacking at Stephan Lichtsteiner, the Swiss right-back far from the danger zone. Delph was like a bull in a china shop. Rooney, the captain, needed to have a word, needed to calm Delph down but he carried on, flirting with expulsion.
Rooney himself was playing centre-forward, and should have scored in the first half. Wilshere, advancing upfield, doing what he does best, chipped a perfect pass to Rooney, whose first touch let him down.
Then Sterling raced through the middle, laying the ball wide to Rooney, whose touch was better but his accuracy was poor, the shot heading harmlessly to Yann Sommer.
England’s best opportunities seemed on the breakaway when their fliers, Welbeck and Sterling, could run at a Swiss defence that was not the most convincing as was proved near the hour mark. Earlier on, Welbeck was too quick for Steve von Bergen. Sterling was immediately tracked by Behrami. The Swiss did not hold back when trying to close down Sterling, clearly targeted as England’s most dangerous player.
England had to see off some Swiss pressure. John Stones, making his first competitive appearance for England, dealt well with an Admir Mehmedi break. England’s other full-back, Leighton Baines, hooked clear a clever ball from Xherdan Shaqiri towards Lichtsteiner.
England then broke, Welbeck spinning away down the right, but deciding to be selfless and looking to pick out a team-mate but his delivery was neither designed for Sterling, who had made the closer run, or Rooney who had peeled away towards the back-post. Welbeck’s cut-back missed Sterling and the moment was lost.
Stones was impressing at right-back, blocking Ricardo Rodriguez’s cross, but there were still problems in the centre. After 33 minutes, Phil Jones lost the ball, Shaqiri played Haris Seferovic in and only Hart’s quick anticipation, advancing and spreading himself blocked the Eintracht Frankfurt striker’s finish. Hart again reminded everyone why he is England’s No 1.
Delph was gradually coming to terms with the occasion, showing real persistence to nick the ball down the corner-flag and set up Rooney.
The England captain turned away from Behrami, but his shot was scooped away by Sommer.
As the half closed, England so nearly scored from a corner. It began with the usual jostling melee, from which Switzerland seemed distracted by Gary Cahill’s run. Jones was presented with a yard of space, being too quick for Johan Djourou, and meeting Rooney’s outswinging corner powerfully. Sommer did brilliantly to push the ball away.
Even before Welbeck’s finish, England had even more chances of scoring, looking even brighter in the second half. Sterling miscued a wonderful opportunity. Behrami almost turned the ball into his own net.
England then had to survive a real scare, Hart saving from Seferovic after a good build-up involving Granit Xhaka and Shaqiri.
But then England really flew through the gears after 58 minutes. Sterling pressed the Swiss into surrendering the ball before passing to Rooney. England’s captain then showed his class, showed why he deserves to start every game. He advanced confidently, picking out Sterling, whose cross was low and hard towards the far-post.
Welbeck was arriving at pace, under pressure, but still making sure he stretched out and made contact. The ball came off his shin but nobody of an English persuasion cared. Welbeck was engulfed by players congratulating him. Hodgson punched the air. England fans sung even louder, breaking off from their vocal criticism of the FA’s new “loyalty” which rewards Wembley goers more than England’s away support. The FA, desperate to fill Wembley, has its priorities wrong.
Gary Cahill then came to England’s rescue, sliding in to clear after Josip Drmic had rounded Hart. Jones limped away with a hamstring, bringing Phil Jagielka on. Milner, winning his 50th cap, was anchoring midfield. England were then denied a penalty when Delph was brought down by Djourou but the experienced Turkish referee, Cuynet Cakir, waved play on to the visitors’ bemusement. Welbeck then had a shot blocked by Djourou.
Welbeck then raced through again and crashed his shot past Sommer. Hodgson’s smile grew even bigger.
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