The Greece Game!!! (England National Football Team)

Member Name: wildman

Product:	England National Football Team
Date:	09/10/01 (88 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beckham as captain

Disadvantages: Some players have inexperience

Starting Eleven

Nigel Martyn

Not really at fault for either of the goals - any keeper would have struggled behind England’s defence on Saturday. Looked nervous - hardly surprising giving his lack of experience at this level - and uncomfortable with his kicking.

Ashley Cole

A few wonderful touches going forward but, in common with most of the England team, his distribution let him down. Was woefully at fault for the first Greek goal, diving into a tackle on the touchline when he should have stayed on his feet. Most work on his defensive skills.

Martin Keown

Worked as hard as ever but, at 35, time is against him. He is struggling to keep up at international level. Must be a doubt whether he will be in the World Cup squad and Sven must hope Sol Campbell and Wes Brown quickly regain their fitness.

Rio Ferdinand

Came into the game on the back of a lot of hype but never looked at ease. Certainly at fault for the second Greece goal. Needs to work on his defensive qualities before he can be mentioned in the same breath as Bobby Moore.

Gary Neville

Played Demis Nikolaidis onside for the second Greek goal and never looked in the form that stunned the Germans last month. Struggled to get forward and didn’t link well with Beckham. Needs to be consistent as their are better teams the Greece ahead.

Nick Barmby

Seemed well off the pace right from the start. Passes frequently went astray and he struggled to control the ball under pressure. Eriksson was left with little alternative but to replace him at half time.

Steven Gerrard

Failed to make his usual explosive impact and spent most the game shoring up the defence. Played too deep and couldn’t make any bursts forward. His passing lacked the trademark accuracy but he never stopped chasing and harrying.

Paul Scholes

Everything he tried seem to go wrong - passes went astr
ay and deft touches up at the opponents feet. Never stopped working for the cause but you wonder whether the uncertainty over his Manchester United role is starting to get to him.

David Beckham

Captain Colossus, Captain Fantastic, Captain Marvel, just add any other superlative after the word Captain. Becks was an inspiration to us all. Brilliant, tireless, he has truly earned the skipper’s armband and if anyone can lead us to the glory next summer, it is him.

Robbie Fowler

The Liverpool striker failed to fill the magical boots left empty by his Liverpool club-mate Michael Owen. His lack of first-team action at Anfield showed - he looked short of match practice, ideas and confidence.

Emile Heskey

Powerful when he needed to be, Heskey showed bursts of speed that left the Greek defence flat-footed at times. He sometimes looked cumbersome in not one of his best games for England - but he was, as always, rock-solid.

Substitutes That Were Used

Andy Cole

Looked sharp but missed a great chance to equalise just a minute after coming on for Barmby at the start of the second half. Lively and inventive but his first touch lets him down too often.

Teddy Sheringham

He is 35 - but he has the mental ability of a precocious teenager. Replaced Robbie Fowler after 68 minutes and it took less than a minute to brilliantly head home England’s first goal. He went on to cause the Greeks a whole load of problems.

Steve McMANAMAN

The Real Madrid star made a brief appearance for the last 10 minutes after replacing Ashley Cole as England pushed for the equaliser. But Macca struggled to make much of an impression. Gone are the days when he could beat a defence all on his own.

Summary: