England 0-0 Macedonia


UEFA European Championship Qualifying Group E
5pm, Sat 7 October 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester

Steve McClaren's winning streak as Head Coach was brought to an end by a determined Macedonia who celebrated at the final whistle like they had scooped football's greatest prize.

In front of the largest crowd whilst England have been on the road, 72,062, England endured a frustrating afternoon at Old Trafford.

Steven Gerrard typified the mood. Booked for a rash tackle - he will now miss the trip to Croatia - the Liverpool man then rattled the crossbar as England huffed and puffed.

Much was made of a possible switch to 3-5-2 but any plans England Head Coach Steve McClaren may have had of playing a back three were dispelled when Rio Ferdinand, the natural sweeper, injured his back in training. The excellent Ledley King stepped in to fill Ferdinand's considerable boots.

In midfield, Michael Carrick replaced the injured Owen Hargreaves while Wayne Rooney returned to partner Peter Crouch up front.

The capacity Old Trafford crowd roared when Rooney's name was announced over the tannoy, and the mercurial forward showed a few flashes of his talent during the opening exchanges.

The Three Lions started brightly, particularly down the flanks. Ashley Cole and Stewart Downing linked intelligently on the left with the Chelsea man overlapping with pleasing regularity, and one such move brought the game's first corner.

However, it was Macedonia who fashioned the first clear opening, Goran Pandev twisting and turning in the box before firing into the sidenetting. Had the forward with the golden boots taken a more direct approach to goal, rather than switching the ball onto his left foot, then the visitors might have taken a surprise lead.

Michael Carrick was showing his class in possession and one diagonal pass threaded through the congested midfield to the maurauding Gary Neville was as good as anything seen during the first 15 minutes. However, his Manchester United colleague could not deliver a telling cross and Macedonia survived.

Carrick, looking comfortable on his home ground, then sprayed another 40 yard pass out to the right this time for Steven Gerrard, but Macedonia scrambled clear.

The small pocket of Macedonian fans, to the right of the press box, gamely chanted away and their battling team responded, enjoying an extended period of pressure towards the end of the half.

At the other end, Downing dinked a ball over the top to Lampard who had made a trademark late run into the box. The Chelsea midfielder brought the ball down expertly to escape his marker but was thwarted by the alert Jane Nikoloski who rushed off his line to make the important block.

A number of fans were still taking their seats after half-time when England almost went ahead. From Downing's free-kick, Lampard rose highest to head goalwards but Nikoloski made a super save, diving to his right to palm the ball wide.

But cheers turned to jeers a minute later when Gerrard was booked for a tackle from behind. Having been cautioned in Skopje, the Liverpool man will miss the trip to Croatia.

Macedonia were adding some style to the substance they displayed in the first half, going close when Aleksandar Mitreski rose highest and headed over.

The visitors, who looked comfortable on the ball, then broke clear through substiutute Aco Stojkov. Showing King a clean pair of heels, the sprightly Macedonian raced through and forced Paul Robinson into a smart save.

But England responded when Crouch forced another excellent save from Nikoloski. Gary Neville, still goalless after 83 caps, sent the rebound high, wide and ugly.

Crouch went close with another header moments later and the busy forward then set up Rooney with a superbly weighted ball over the top. Rooney's touch took him a little wide and his left-footed shot was well saved.

Cole, who reined in his attacking after a bright opening, was in the

England Head Coach Steve McClaren was dealt an injury blow today when Everton's Andrew Johnson had to be withdrawn from the England squad.

McClaren said: "Andy's out of the games against Macedonia and Croatia with a hamstring injury which he picked up in the last minute against Manchester City on Saturday.

"It's a real blow because he's made a massive impact already with Everton this season and I've been hugely impressed by him. He's got such a great attitude and is a constant threat to any defence.

"He was certainly knocking very hard on the door for a place in the team, so it's a disappointment to lose him.
"However, I've spoken to Peter Taylor and I can confirm that Darren Bent will now join the senior squad when we meet tomorrow.

"We're fortunate that we are able to call Darren up from the Under-21's. He's already got experience of been involved in several senior squads and he's a player with excellent ability and a real goal threat."

England v Macedonia
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
5pm, Saturday 7 October 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester United FC

Steve McClaren expects England captain John Terry to lead out the team for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers with Macedonia and Croatia.

Terry sat out Chelsea's 2-0 victory at Fulham on Saturday with a back injury which has been giving the Premiership Champions some cause for concern.

He received treatment on the complaint from England's osteopath on Sunday and has flown out to Bulgaria with the Chelsea squad for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Levski Sofia.

The centre half may not be risked for the game, but appears to be optimistic about his chances of being available for his country.

England face Macedonia on 7 October and Croatia four days later, with Head Coach McClaren expecting to have his skipper in his squad for the double header.

"I had a text from him yesterday," McClaren told Sky Sports News. "It was typical John Terry and he said he'll be all right for Wednesday. He's a tough character."

But should the Three Lions skipper be ruled out with the back problem, then McClaren feels he has the options to cope without the robust defender.

He added: "Injuries are part and parcel of football, at club level, at international level. I know that with the experience I've got and it's up to us to find players to replace them and give them the opportunity.

"That's what I've certainly been doing over the last few weeks and what I will be doing this week."