Both teams went into the geam at full power from the start, though England missed few important players due to injuries. Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch and Ben Foster are injured, while Gabriel Agbonlahor, though being called-up, refused to show at the National Team training camp due to personal reasons. Fabio Capello stated before the game that 19-years-old Jack Wilshere will feature in the starting line-up, and so he did, alongisde Lampard, Milner and Walcott in the four-man midfield line. Denmark sent the best formation on the pitch. Nicklas Bendtner, who always seems far from first team football at Arsenal, featured in the first eleven and played the whole game.
Foto Source: dkelite.dk
The first goal of the game arrived early, only eight minutes from the whistle, and surprising or not, it was Denmark’s. Ajax youngster Christian Eriksen (foto) took an indirect free-kick which met Daniel Agger’s head in the box. Liverpool’s defender was unmarked and netted the ball in Joe Hart’s goal. However, England pegged back immediately through Darren Bent. Theo Walcott shows his great technique inside the right-side of the box and sends a low-cross to Villa’s striker, who scores from a sitter for 1-1. The following minutes of the game were not impressive, with both teams trying to find a way to the opposition’s goal.
The 34th minute brings another Danish chance, with the same Ajax youngster on the highlights. Christian Eriksen took an action all by himself and striked the ball from outside the penalty box, but his shot hit England’s goal and the result remained 1-1. Dennis Rommedahl was close to make it 2-1 five minutes later, but Joe Hart was safe between the sticks and deflected the ball into the corner. Lampard was the one to score in the 41st minute, but Chelsea’s midfielder was strayed offside when Walcott delivered the decisive pass and the scoresheet didn’t changed. 1-1 was to be the result at half-time between two teams that didn’t impressed, but it was Denmarks who went into the changing rooms with a higher morale after challenging Capello’s squad. Lampard, Wilshere and Rooney were taken off at the break for Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and Ashley Young. Brøndby’s defender Daniel Wass was sent on the pitch for Simon Poulsen, while former Fiorentina player Martin Jørgensen was substituted by Simon Kjær.
England looked more lively in the beginning of the second half. Darren Bent could have doubled his tally six minutes into the second period, but his two-yards header was denied by Thomas Sørensen. One minute later the same Thomas Sørensen easily stopped Ashley Young’s header from inside the box.
The next chance was Denmark’s, after another great technique show-off by Christian Eriksen. The 18-years-old player passed the ball with his backheel to Rommedahl in the box, but the Danish striker missed a very good opportunity from a tight-angle. In the end it was Ashley Young who netted the 1-2 goal after a great attack move by wingback Glen Johnson and a placed shot by the half-time substitution. Nothing else special happened until the end of the game, besides the Danish crowd singing like they had the advantage over England. Though the game was not impressive, it seems the Danes enjoyed their team’s display on Parken.
Denmark is currently lying third in its 2012 EURO qualifying group, with six points in three games. Portugal and Norway are placed above Morten Olsen’s team. Denmark’s next official game will be against fellow-team Norway next month. England is lying second in its group, with seven points after three games. Montenegro is topping England’s group with ten points from four games. The Lions will face Wales on 26th March.
Other international friendly results:
Russia 0-1 Iran (90′ Khalatbari)
Macedonia 0-1 Cameroon (75′ Andongcho)
Greece 1-0 Canada (63′ Fetafatzidis)
Croatia 4-2 Czech Republic (10′ Eduardo, 13′, 61′ Kalinic, 75′ Ilicevic – 20′ Sivok, 45′ Rosicky)
Israel 0-2 Serbia (23′ Tosic, 77′ Trivunovic)
Turkey 0-0 Korea Republic
Cyprus 1-1 [4-5 pen.] Romania (84′ Konstantinou - 55′ Torje)
Sweden 1-1 [ 4-5 pen.] Ukraine (7′ Elmander – 20′ pen. Devic)
South Africa 2-0 Kenya (3′ Somma, 45′ Pienaar)
Few other important fixtures are going to be played tonight, with the highlights on France – Brazil, Argentina – Portugal and Germany – Italy. Spain and Holland are both going to play tonight against Colombia and Austria and a victory is expected from both 2010 World Cup Finalists.
