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Wednesday October 14, 2009; World Cup Qualifier. England 3 Belarus 0 England: B.Foster, G.Johnson, R.Ferdinand, J.Terry, W.Bridge (J.Milner 78), A.Lennon (D.Beckham 58), F.Lampard, G.Barry, S.Wright-Phillips, P.Crouch, G.Agbonlahor (C.Cole 66). Belarus: Zhevnov, Kulchy, Yurevich, Sosnovskiy, Bordachev (Kashevsky 84), Verkhovtsov, Omelyanchuk, Shitov, Kalachev, Kornilenko (Kovel 77), Kutuzov (Rodionov 45). England made six changes from the side that started against Ukraine on Saturday with the most surprising being Ben Foster's selection in goal. A new keeper was always going to start after Robert Green's red card but the choice of Foster, not included in the original squad because of injury, was a shock. The way England started the game suggested that Foster might not have much to do on his return to international duty. Barely a minute had passed before Shaun Wright-Phillips was shooting narrowly wide following a half cleared free kick and two minutes later England were ahead. Gareth Barry created the chance with a pin point pass to slice open the Belarus defence and Gabby Agbonlahor showed a cool head in waiting for the precise moment to supply Peter Crouch with the chance to poke home from point blank range. England continued to impress for a few minutes more with Barry looking especially impressive. The authority and precision that marked England's start soon began to fade, however, and the first half drifted into a familiar pattern. Most of the slick passing was provided by the visitors, without offering much of a threat, while England lumbered along creating more danger on their intermittent ventures forward. Kornilenko scuffed a half chance wide from a second successive Belarus corner while Crouch got in a strong header from an England corner only to direct it ten yards wide of the target. Wright-Phillips managed to elbow the keeper in the head as they challenged for a decent Glen Johnson centre but Zhenov recovered in time to make a decent low stop to deny Agbonlahor after the Villa striker launched a lone breakaway after England had cleared a corner. There was nothing cohesive about England's play at this stage, however, with Barry slipping into the general mediocrity around him and nobody either willing or able to stamp any real authority on proceedings. Johnson showed good composure and awareness to break up a dangerous short passing move inside his own penalty area as Belarus began to grow in confidence but the increasing tendancy to play football in all areas then almost cost the visitors. After some unnecessary passes at the back Zhenov chipped a loose ball straight out of play and Johnson was quickly bearing down on goal from the throw in. Having cut inside onto his left foot to clear the path to goal the full back could only slice his shot horribly off target, however. The enigma that is Glen Johnson continued to baffle the keenest observers as he was then caught in possession in a dangerous area but Bordachev wasted a wonderful position by hitting his pass too far ahead of Kornilenko in front of goal. The visitors were obviously growing in confidence and Kutozov was presented with a chance after playing a slick 1-2 but refused to shoot with his left foot and the opporunity vanished. Foster was finally called into action by Omelyanchuk's low free kick from distance but there were no dramas as he fielded the effort cleanly and England were able to slightly rouse themselves as half time approached. John Terry was a bit unlucky to see a high stepping volley charged down after Crouch had got his head to a free kick and then Crouch himself headed wide at the near post after a decent combination down the right between Johnson and Aaron Lennon. So England went in at half time ahead but the overall performance had been no better than mediocre and you felt certain that Fabio Capello would be having a few choice words at the interval. Half Time: England 1 Belarus 0 Anybody hoping for, or expecting, an improved England display on the resumption were to be disappointed as the play remained fitful at best. Frank Lampard clipped in a free kick that Zhevnov tipped over straight after half time but England's play was generally sloppy. It was probably fair to say that Wright-Phillips was by now having a nightmare, out of position on the left wing, and he must have felt even worse when Kornilenko suddenly unleashed an awful challenge on him and gained the nights' only yellow card. The next action was at the other end as Foster caught a shot from Omelyanchuk but the keeper was not behind the effort and it was difficult to tell whether the ball had been deflected, swerved or simply misjudged. Capello now sent on David Beckham for Lennon to hopefully provoke an improvement and his willingness to move infield and get involved in the play did help England to put more passes together. Beckham's first job was to take a corner, won well by Agbonlahor, which he played back to Wright-Phillips who nipped inside a challenge and sent in a low drive that Zhevnov was unable to keep out. Belarus continued to produce some decent football and put together the best move of the game shortly afterwards. Omelyanchuk started the one touch move, which also involved Rodionov and Bordachev, and was on the end of it as well with a fierce shot that Foster did superbly to turn away at his near post. Terry also had to be alert to clear Kalachev's centre to the near post before Beckham came to Foster's rescue at the far post after the keeper made a forlorn attempt to catch up with a deep centre. Once again England were able to emerge from a period of lethergy to score another goal. Barry sent a ball over the top to Carlton Cole, looking decidedly offside, and when the keeper could only parry his low shot Crouch was following up to mop up for yet another international goal against dubious opposition. This goal did knock any remaining stuffing out of the visitors and England were able to control the remaining minutes. Beckham, James Milner and Johnson all sent over good centres that were just about cleared and the Belarus goal amazingly remained intact after Milner hit the inside of a post and Beckham the outside of the other within a minute of each other. All in all a job completed in awkward circumstances, after all England aren't used to playing out dead rubbers, and now everybody can start looking forward to next summer and the finals themselves. Full Time: England 3 Belarus 0 England: B.Foster 7, G.Johnson 7, R.Ferdinand 7, J.Terry 7, W.Bridge 7 (J.Milner 7), A.Lennon 6 (D.Beckham 8), F.Lampard 6, G.Barry 7, S.Wright-Phillips 5, P.Crouch 6, G.Agbonlahor 6 (C.Cole 5). Star Player: David Beckham Beckham was only on for just over half an hour but he was the only England player who really stamped any authority or personality onto the game. His movement was good and his passing a cut above anybody elses in its' range and consistency.
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