Eyewitness - International Football: England 2 Switzerland 2

Published: 06 June 2011
by PAUL COWLING

European Championship Group G- Wembley Stadium
England 2 Switzerland 2

IT was a surprise to find in-form Ashley Young wasn't in the England starting line-up on Saturday; but it was a total shock to see their Swiss opponents race into a two goal lead in this vital European Championship qualifier.
Young, a summer transfer target for Manchester United, scored the equaliser on 51 minutes to get England back in to a game they should have gone on to win. How England were even two goals down to a side they had already comfortably beaten 3-1 in the corresponding away fixture, is worrying for the future of the national team. 
Aside from a bright opening couple of minutes when Darren Bent could have put England in front, the first half belonged to the Swiss, who seized on England's stuttering showing to take control of midfield. In Tranquillo Barnetta, Gokhan Inler, Xherdan Shakiri and Valon Behrami, they have a technically sound midfield, but, one which should still have never have been allowed as much freedom as they were given. The Swiss swept into their shock two goal lead, courtesy of shoddy England defending of a couple of poor free kicks.
The first on 32 minutes slowly floated into the box, and bounced over Rio Ferdinand's head, before drifting past a stranded Joe Hart. Hart was more at fault for Barnetto's second free kick on 35 minutes. The Manchester City keeper was too slow to react when the the ball veered towards the near post after bisecting a two-man wall . 
In a lead-weighted midfield, Jack Wilshere was England's sole shining light in a dreadful first half. He got his side back into the game immediately on 37 minutes; drawing his Arsenal team-mate Johan Djourou into fouling him in the box. Up stepped Frank Lampard to steer the ball under the body of Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio for 2-1.
Had Lampard not scored then, it is doubtful that England would have got back into the game.
Their second half performance was  improved, and made all the more so by the introduction of Ashley Young. How coach Fabio Capello picked the dreadful James Milner over the inform Villa flyer, Young, is a damning indictment of Capello's England managerial career.
Ironically it was Milner who crossed for Leighton Baines (on for the injured Ashley Cole) to chest down for Young to strike a sweet half volley into the far corner of the Swiss net just six minutes after the restart.
Young then forced Benaglio into a save, that rebounded back to Darren Bent. With time to place his shot, the Villa striker side-kicked his shot over the bar, when it was literally easier to score.
If this was a shocking miss, there was an even worse one right at the end of injury time, when Villa team mate, Stewart Downing hit the side netting, when he should have scored.
For England, this was another fumbling display when it matters most. Having ripped the Swiss apart in the autumn, many were bigging them up to win Euro 2012 (like they usually do). This time, there is solid proof that England are just not good enough to win a major tournament, so we should forget any idea about that happening soon. 
Fabio Capello's mangy lions are light years away from the ruthless, slick efficiencies of World Champions Spain. And heaven help England when the Dutch come to Wembley for a friendly on August 10: friendly or not, Holland will almost certainly show up England for what they are: a fading force in the game.
Even if the likes of Spain and Germany had gone 2-0 down to this average Swiss side, they would have gone on to score four, five or six of their own. England had their chances, but didn't take them, and two vital points were dropped. It will all come down to Podgorica on October 7th; against a country of just 600,000 people. Montenegro could well pip England to top spot, and a place at next year's European Championship Finals. All of England's long suffering fans need to take a reality check.