nickjdavis
Head Pro
Defensive frailties often make for compelling football matches and in tonights UEFA U-19 Championship England v Germany match there were plenty of them.
England dominated the match for the most part but, as against Norway were utterly exposed to fast counter attacks giving Germany space to create and clinically finish openings.
Germany went ahead on 7 minutes as they carved England open down the left leaving a simple tap in. Despite lots of England pressure and half opportunties, 1-0 became 2-0 on 31 minutes as England were again opened up down the left before the German turned the defender inside out, and then did it again to create space for a shot where he rifled the ball past the keeper at the near post.
Within 4 minutes England grabbed a goal back following an incisive ball out to the left and a subsequent cross that was well controlled before being smashed home from around the penalty spot. England should have been level less than 2 minutes later when a far post free header went back across the goal when it seemed easier to score.
When they should have been looking to get to half time and consolidate, England once more were undone by a direct attack down the wing, seeing a ball inside rolled across the front of the box where a shot from 20 yards took a deflection, wrong footing the keeper.
England should have immediately grabbed one back but the shot was scuffed just wide and were made to pay in the 44th minute from a corner, not picking up a runner who flicked the ball home from the edge of the 6 yard box.
If things couldn't get any worse for England, Germany went 5-1 up in the 48th minute, again following a swift counter attack down the right, though to this observer the goal scorer at the back post looked offside....but no VAR in action, no fancy replays and to be fair to the lino, he was level with play.
So 3 goals in 7 minutes for Germany either side of half time and you couldn't blame them for thinking that the job was done. Then things got interesting.
On 52 minutes a foul down the right side lead to a free kick swung in saw a header spilled by the German keeper and tucked in from a yard out to make it 5-2. Three minutes later, 5-2 became 5-3 when German defensive frailties failed to get a decent foot on the ball and it broke on the edge of the 6 yard box for England to sweep the ball home. Still....at 5-3 there was no real reason for German panic was there?
Well...on 60 minutes a long corner to the back post was headed home via the post for 5-4 and just three minutes later the comeback was complete when the keeper failed to hold on to a cross and dropped the ball at the feet of an English forward for a tap-in.
You'd have thought that, with the best part of half an hour left, a winner (or three) might have transpired, but as it happens despite a number of half chances and long range shots for both teams, neither keeper was really severely tested, the normal raft of substitutions perhaps robbing some of the attack of fluency.
Entertaining...certainly. Quality...well, perhaps a bit lacking. I'm glad though that I didnt turn off at 5-1 though!!
As it stands, England lie second in the group having drawn 2 games, scoring and conceding 7 goals. Final game is against the Netherlands who racked up 3-0 and 2-0 victories against Germany and Norway. Englands defence has looked remarkably suspect in the two games i've watched, so, unless the Netherlands take their foot off the gas having already won the group, its going to be difficult to see them winning, which could leave the door open for either Norway or Germany.
Spain have qualified from the other group and Denmark/Romania will fight it out to join them having both already lost to Spain and both winning against Montenegro.
England dominated the match for the most part but, as against Norway were utterly exposed to fast counter attacks giving Germany space to create and clinically finish openings.
Germany went ahead on 7 minutes as they carved England open down the left leaving a simple tap in. Despite lots of England pressure and half opportunties, 1-0 became 2-0 on 31 minutes as England were again opened up down the left before the German turned the defender inside out, and then did it again to create space for a shot where he rifled the ball past the keeper at the near post.
Within 4 minutes England grabbed a goal back following an incisive ball out to the left and a subsequent cross that was well controlled before being smashed home from around the penalty spot. England should have been level less than 2 minutes later when a far post free header went back across the goal when it seemed easier to score.
When they should have been looking to get to half time and consolidate, England once more were undone by a direct attack down the wing, seeing a ball inside rolled across the front of the box where a shot from 20 yards took a deflection, wrong footing the keeper.
England should have immediately grabbed one back but the shot was scuffed just wide and were made to pay in the 44th minute from a corner, not picking up a runner who flicked the ball home from the edge of the 6 yard box.
If things couldn't get any worse for England, Germany went 5-1 up in the 48th minute, again following a swift counter attack down the right, though to this observer the goal scorer at the back post looked offside....but no VAR in action, no fancy replays and to be fair to the lino, he was level with play.
So 3 goals in 7 minutes for Germany either side of half time and you couldn't blame them for thinking that the job was done. Then things got interesting.
On 52 minutes a foul down the right side lead to a free kick swung in saw a header spilled by the German keeper and tucked in from a yard out to make it 5-2. Three minutes later, 5-2 became 5-3 when German defensive frailties failed to get a decent foot on the ball and it broke on the edge of the 6 yard box for England to sweep the ball home. Still....at 5-3 there was no real reason for German panic was there?
Well...on 60 minutes a long corner to the back post was headed home via the post for 5-4 and just three minutes later the comeback was complete when the keeper failed to hold on to a cross and dropped the ball at the feet of an English forward for a tap-in.
You'd have thought that, with the best part of half an hour left, a winner (or three) might have transpired, but as it happens despite a number of half chances and long range shots for both teams, neither keeper was really severely tested, the normal raft of substitutions perhaps robbing some of the attack of fluency.
Entertaining...certainly. Quality...well, perhaps a bit lacking. I'm glad though that I didnt turn off at 5-1 though!!
As it stands, England lie second in the group having drawn 2 games, scoring and conceding 7 goals. Final game is against the Netherlands who racked up 3-0 and 2-0 victories against Germany and Norway. Englands defence has looked remarkably suspect in the two games i've watched, so, unless the Netherlands take their foot off the gas having already won the group, its going to be difficult to see them winning, which could leave the door open for either Norway or Germany.
Spain have qualified from the other group and Denmark/Romania will fight it out to join them having both already lost to Spain and both winning against Montenegro.
Besides, we just finished 17th so every opponent is better than us bar three of them.
