In Roy Hodgson’s first game at Wembley as the England manager, he only just managed from suffering a rare home defeat, when a Frank Lampard penalty equalized the scores at 1-1 with just three minutes of normal time remaining, after Ukraine had gone ahead with a magnificent strike from Yevhen Konoplyanka after 38 minutes
It looked like Jermain Defoe had put England ahead in the first half when he beat a couple of men and rifled the ball into the back of the net, but he had pushed off one of the Ukraine defenders and the goal was disallowed. The English TV commentators said it was a harsh decision, but Jermain had pushed off a defender – an obvious foul by the rules of the game .
And then Phil Jagielka had a free header from Gerrard’s corner, but from only six yards out it lacked enough power, and Phil should really have scored, and then Tom Cleverley somehow missed a golden chance, when he failed to put the ball in the back of the net – but only managed to hit goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov from six yards out – Tom should have scored.
England could and should have been ahead by one or two goals at this point, but then after 38 minutes Yevhen Konoplyanka got the ball and moved inside and from five yards outside the penalty unleashed a tremendous shot into the top corner, that gave England goalkeeper no chance at all. It was a great goal and Steven Gerard had tried to block the shot but, he didn’t get close enough to the Ukranian striker.
At the half it was still 1-0 to Ukraine.
England pressed in the second half, but the Ukraine were holding out and right back Glen Johnson of Liverpool, who was having a good game storming up the right wing, almost scored a great equalizer, but the Ukrainian goalkeeper turned the ball around the post, from Glen’s excellent left foot shot, but a goal kick was given.
And then Welbeck should have scored when he had an excellent chance six yards out, but he managed to somehow hit the post, and the ball was cleared.
But then some good ball-work and skill from Danny Welbeck got England a penalty after 87 minutes, when a Ukrainian defender clearly handled the ball in the penalty box, and for the 9th time in 11 attempts, the reliable Frank Lampard blasted home the penalty to even the score.
England went all out for the winner after that, but Steven Gerrard managed to pick up a second yellow card and was sent off, and after four minutes of added time the final whistle was blown.
England had dropped two points at home, which was unexpected against a country ranked 39 in the FIFA rankings, with England currently ranked the third best in the world – somehow.
It was a disappointing result for England and only a so-so performance at Wembley from the England side.
Comments welcome.
55 comments so far
Tsunki
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Comment #1i fitted a kitchen for my bro-in-law instead. Was that wrong?
AMEOBI
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Comment #2Didn’t watch the match, won’t watch them either.. Awful overpaid player like Lampard/Gerrard/Terry.. Should be long gone from England. I’d stick to me newcastle!
toonLYF
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:33 PM
Comment #3Meh.
cupiddstunt
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:33 PM
Comment #4Well at least it’s not a loss 🙂
toonLYF
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:34 PM
Comment #5genuinely think Newcastle could beat England.
Big Pappa Cissé
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:34 PM
Comment #6So the third best national team in the world snatches a late draw against relatively average opposition at home. Gimme a break, we have no chance in Brazil
Tsunki
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Comment #7Cupid – are you referring to me? I wouldn’t be so sure, family jobs never pay.
ToonDownSouth
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:37 PM
Comment #8“The English TV commentators said it was a harsh decision, but Jermain had pushed off a defender – an obvious foul by the rules of the game .”
Please tell me that’s a joke…
Tsunki
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:37 PM
Comment #9Ed’s using his noggin – how better to fight the whiners than to put an article on about an even worse team? Nice deflection.
ToonDownSouth
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Comment #10BPC
Do Sweden go to th WC hoping to win the thing? Do Korea? Do Australia?
I don’t really understand your point. Everyone knows England’s players are not good enough, so why should we expect anything more?
Is there anyone that genuinely expects England to go to Brazil and win? I highly doubt it.
Tsunki
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:42 PM
Comment #11TDS – to be fair to BPC, our FIFA ranking suggests we do indeed have aspirations of victory at any given WC. Silly as it may seem. 😉
89Norcal
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Comment #12I watched the Spain v Georgia game and it was just as poor. Most on Georgia’s part. I don’t think they ever stepped out of their own penalty box!
Anyone watching France v Belarus? Cabaye looking very good so far
Big Pappa Cissé
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Comment #13TDS
I am referring more to our world ranking more than anything else. I could name ten teams now that are better than England . I also hate how the national press hype us up all the time, we beat a very poor team 5-0 at the weekend and suddenly we are on the world cup band wagon again. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing more that I would like than to see England do it in brazil (Well maybe NUFC winning a cup) and underdogs like Greece can do it. I’m just a realist that’s all 🙂
Tsunki
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Comment #14Anyhoo, reading previous articles and seeing all the guff about twitterites saying there is unrest at the club, and still barfing up transfer window failings. It’s just self-promotion.
I just wish the crap spreaders who seem to be haunting the blog of late would grow up and become familiar with the real world of present-day economics in ALL corporate affairs and stop insisting that football clubs be free-spending gambling houses. If they all stood back a pace or two and had a good look at the club now they would appreciate what good shape we are in, as of this moment in europe and both cups, strengthened team, good reserve and academy setup. What do they want, jam?
tarie4
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Comment #15ToonDownSouth
It wasn’t a joke and it was a foul imo. In the premiership yes it wasn’t, but on the continent it was. And the referee was from??
Lanzatoon42
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Comment #16I don t know why i watch england.
The usual load of crap, boring football and will be lucky to qualify for brazil. Anyway thats the best england will do.
ToonDownSouth
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:56 PM
Comment #17BPC & Tsunki
I appreciate that the world ranking system seems ridiculous, but to be fair any algorithm will always throw up a few anomilies. The fact is that we’re 3rd because we usually perform consistently well in qualifying and friendlies – something that no other team does. I don’t think there’s necessarily anything wrong with the system itself. We also didn’t lose a game at the Euros, so that’s pushed us up a bit.
I agree with the hype being ridiculous, but to be fair I don’t think anyone with a brain is under any illusions as to how good England are. It’s just the papers doing their usual routine of building something up so that they can knock it back down again.
I enjoy watching England like I enjoy watching Newcastle – I don’t ever expect us to win things, but I just enjoy the occasional high, and get disappointed at the occasional low. No different for me really.
Tsunki
Sep 11, 2012 at 10:57 PM
Comment #18TDS – I feel your pain.
beddersmag
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Comment #19BPC
Same debate about Moldovan quality with my mate last night. Ranked in 100s but don’t seem to get tonked much. In euro 2012 qualifiers lost 1.0 and 0.1 to Holland. 2.1 to Sweden. Beat Finland 2.0 and worst beating was Sweden 4.1. Drew 0.0 with Belarus earlier this year. 0.5 away win above par, and that goal difference could be crucial. Tonight was unlucky with weakened side. We are third because we generally dispose of 90% of european teams in qualification. So we sre 3rd on merit. Doesnt mean anything when we end up playing a big boy in the latter stages of a tournment though- you know the outcome
ToonDownSouth
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Comment #20tarie
I disagree. I always read people talking about how soft continental referees are, but I just don’t see it myself.
Defoe put his hand up behind him to protect himself. It touched the players neck. The player pretended he’d been struck in the face, in the hope that Defoe would be punished.
That’s the situation from my point of view. If that was a Newcastle player I’d be so so so embarassed, as I was when Perch acted like he did against Liverpool.
BelfastMagpie
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Comment #21International football is rubbish.
The two week international breaks are bloddy boring.lol
And the numptys who decided to switch the games to a friday nyt,instead of a Saturday need a good slap. 🙂
It makes the break even worse.
tarie4
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Comment #22Tsunki
I think it stems from a genuine hatred of Ashley more than anything else. I mean roll back 12 months ago, we were all complaining about losing Nolan Enrique etc, also apparently no striker had been bought, Williamson was injured we had no backup. Pards was a yes man with no spine. The list is endless, and the team pards and ASHLEY all proved us wrong. We came 5th. Had a 11 unbeaten strike, a 6 game on the trot winning run.
and not one of the neggers (esp JIMMYMAGPIE) congratulated Ashley, and to some extent pards for the successful season. All they could say was that if we had defensive cover and had Cisse been bought in august instead of January we would have finished 4th.
Some might say Ashley is a lucky man, firing Houghton hiring pards, carr, selling Nolan Carroll etc getting cabaye Benny etc. But in hindsight weren’t those the decisions that got us 5th in the league last year.
Considering all this, I would rather trust Ashley, than anyman who can say we are going nowhere with Ashley, and he has no ambition, etc. Coz we came from playing Scunthorpe to playing Bordeaux in the Europa league in 3 seasons. (And pple still moan???) relegation DID NOT give all of us a wake up call and a dose of realism. It just kept most quiet for a season and a half.
BelfastMagpie
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:11 PM
Comment #23I’d love to know who’s great Idea that was?
Probably that twat Platini no doubt.
magpiebop
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:13 PM
Comment #24Some fans are stuborn to the point of still not giving a penny to the club while Ashley is owner. Would we have had the extra money for Debuchy if it wasn’t for these so called fans? Bit of a catch twentytwo eh!
tarie4
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:15 PM
Comment #25ToonDownSouth
That is football nowadays mate, and Defoe didn’t tap the guy, he pushed him away dnt U think 😉 had he not been pushed, he would have had a clear path to make a tackle, (hence why Defoe put his hand out)
That was a foul)
As for going down easily, that is the game now. Had perch not gone down, would Reina been sent off?? Wud sess from the unwashed been sent off??
If it was only toon players doing it, yes it would be wrong. But every footballer is doing it. Yes some over do it, but thats part of the game. That’s a fact. And its nothing imo to be embarrassed about..
ToonDownSouth
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:22 PM
Comment #26tarie
I really disagree with the “it’s part of the game” idea, though I’m aware loads of people feel the same.
In my opinion, the people who pay to watch football do not want to see it – so it shouldn’t happen.
ToonDownSouth
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Comment #27Also, Welbeck’s dive was awful.
Hopefully that’ll shut up those who claim that it’s all the foreign players!
Big Pappa Cissé
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:36 PM
Comment #28On diving allot of players say we need more protection which is bullsh*t IMO . Its not as if players were getting their legs broken every weekend and needed referees to save them. I would love to see a stat comparing serious injury’s from 20 years ago to the last 5 years or so, I bet you it will be no different. You can just as easily break your leg by tangling legs like Djibrill Cisse or Henrick Larrson. I dread to think what it will be like in another 10 years, I half expect them to have pillows gaffa taped to their body’s 🙂
weg
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:46 PM
Comment #29I cant believe Glen Johnson is still in this damn England team!! He’s one of the worst right backs we’ve ever had. People seem to be hypnotized by his runs down the wing – HE’S MEANT TO BE A DEFENDER! Granted, right backs are required to go forward sometimes, but not 95% of the time! He waits too long to cross or pass, loses the ball and gets caught out of position, leaving Milner to try to track back. Johnson thinks he’s Ronaldo!!! HE’S NOT!!! He doesn’t have it upstairs!
This team lacks quality passing, basic control, and any smidgeon of creativity! Lampard’s too slow in his thinking, Cleverley is raw, Welbeck has the touch of a Rhino, Milner’s stuck doing his job and Johnson’s, Defoe needs a strike partner.
It’s time Hodgson woke up and realised that this England team needs a major overhaul! (and it has done for two or three years!). We need players with quick, alert minds, more than an ounce of control/skill, and an obvious desire to fight for the cause! Far too many players are building up their cap total without deserving them.
Please, Hodgson, remove Glen Johnson to obscurity – or, at least, play him as a winger, rather than a right back. It would suit him better!
I live in hope!
AMEOBI
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:52 PM
Comment #30??When I was at school I was a fella, round the bikeshed fingering Daniella
Big Pappa Cissé
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:55 PM
Comment #31@ Weg
That is a bit harsh on Johnson like. If you can name a better English right back other than maybe Kyle Walker who is just as attacking then be my guest ? . I’ll tell you one thing though, I would have him over Simmo any day of the week. Plus Johnson is a Toon fan aswell 🙂
FatmanJoe
Sep 11, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Comment #32I was at wembley tonight and believe me Johnson didn’t even excel in the right wing role. I used to really like him but there was actual moments in this game where he was just stood still. Still. A footballer playing an important qualifier in a forward position standing bloody still. In the first half he half heartedly called for it (and got ignored) but in the second he was so lazy!
No one covered themselves in glory tonight. Gerrard and Milner ran their socks off with no avail and lampard was steady without being spectacular but the others Inc hart didn’t seem to have the heart for it. Welbeck was lively when he came on tho.
Jagielka is appallingly slow! I didn’t realise til tonight how slow he is off the ball!
Anyway. Disappointing performance. Must sleep.
AMEOBI
Sep 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Comment #33Big Pappa Cissé,
Micah Richards is your answer?
toonLYF
Sep 12, 2012 at 12:03 AM
Comment #34Micah Richards is better than both Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker imo.
AMEOBI
Sep 12, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Comment #35I’d love England back 4 as Richards, Saylor, Cahill, Baines.
That would be some defence
Big Pappa Cissé
Sep 12, 2012 at 12:07 AM
Comment #36Richards maybe better than Johnson but not Walker IMO. You have got to ask the question why Richards has not been picked by the last few England managers and also not getting a game at City ? Can’t just be a coincidence
AMEOBI
Sep 12, 2012 at 12:15 AM
Comment #37Big Pappa Cissé,
He’s injured will be near fit now though.. Why they bought Maicon. He’s a mile ahead of Walker and Johnson.. Walker is only fast but weak he’s not that good. Richards is the best RB England have, its that simple
ToonDownSouth
Sep 12, 2012 at 12:31 AM
Comment #38Got to disagree on Richards.
Like BPC said, you have to question why multiple England managers have overlooked him, and why Mancini is continually critical of him.
Zebras4Life
Sep 12, 2012 at 1:40 AM
Comment #39USA looking strong tonight!
gonufc (up and Hatem)
Sep 12, 2012 at 4:48 AM
Comment #40Anyone seen the Australia – Jordan highlights? The Jordanian no. 9 is an absolute disgrace.
Ridiculous dive and then over- celebrates just winning the penalty prior to it being scored.
2 things that I detest in football.