USSR vs England

17th October 2007.

USSR 2-1 England.

England:

Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Campbell, Lescott (Lampard 79), Wright-Phillips (Downing 80), Gerrard, Barry, Cole (Crouch 80), Rooney, Owen.
Subs Not Used: James, Shorey, Luke Young, Neville.

USSR:

Gabulov, Alexei Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky (Torbinsky 46), Aniukov, Zurianov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov, Zhirkov, Arshavin (Kolodin 90), Kerzhakov (Pavluchenko 58).
Subs Not Used: Malafeev, Pogrebniak, Shirokov, Sychev.

How can a world supposedly “world class” England side lose to the Soviet Union. I don’t know about anyone else but i haven’t heard of any of the players in the Russian squad. Fair enough Rooney did score an excellent goal, but that is not excuse to sit back in the second half. We should be pressing forward trying to score a 2nd, 3rd or 4th goal. A team like England should be beating the Russians 3 or 4-nil.

Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t qualify, and based on that performance we really don’t deserve to be in the competition.