Filed under: Euro 2012, Football, Match Reports, England Football
Ashley Young completed England's recovery from a two-goal first half deficit but Fabio Capello's side had only themselves to blame after surrendering two important points in their Euro 2012 campaign.Shocking defensive errors, first from Rio Ferdinand and then from keeper Joe Hart allowed Tranquillo Barnetta to fire Switzerland into the lead before Capello's side fought back through a Frank Lampard penalty and Young's 51st minute strike.
The result took England top of Group G, one point clear Montenegro who were due to play Bulgaria hours after the final whistle blew at Wembley. The Montenegrans secured a scoreless draw in England's last home qualifier and now have the opportunity to take the initiative in the group.
England could have claimed victory had Darren Bent and Stewart Downing made more of good second half chances but overall this was a hugely disappointing display by Capello's side.
And the coach will be forced to shoulder some of the blame for his decision to leave Young out of his starting line-up. The Aston Villa forward energised England following his half-time introduction and was the game's standout player.
England's last three performances had offered promise, particularly the emphatic defeat of Wales in their previous qualifying game in Cardiff in March.
But whilst Capello's side had shown signs of progress, the attacking fluency that marked those displays disappeared in the first half against Switzerland while defensively, the reunited centre back pairing of Ferdinand and John Terry did nothing to inspire confidence.
The warning signs were there for England when Eren Derdiyok was twice allowed a clear sight of goal and the Swiss striker should have done better than fire tame shots straight at Hart before the keeper was called on to produce a much more acrobatic stop to deny Xherdan Shaqiri.
Ferdinand finally produced a response for England when he sent a header onto the roof of the net in the 26th minute.
The Manchester United defender's next contribution was much more forgettable, however, when he completely missed his clearing header from Tranquillo Barnetta 32nd minute free kick and the error was compounded when Hart was unable to react quickly enough to prevent the ball creeping inside the far post.
It was a sloppy goal for England to concede but worse was to follow three minutes later. Bernatta again lined up a free kick, this time from a much tighter angle on the left hand flank, and the Swiss winger improvised superbly, drilling the ball through the gaping wall and catching Hart out at his near post when the England defence was anticipating a floated cross.
Capello was fuming as he witnessed a World Cup-style capitulation from his side.
Fortunately for the home side they fashioned a response almost immediately when the impressive Jack Wilshere forced his way into the Swiss box where he was brought down by Arsenal teammate Johan Djourou, allowing Lampard to halve the deficit from the penalty spot.
That was a let off for England who had failed to trouble the visitors although they improved considerably after the break when Young was introduced for Lampard.
Six minutes after the restart Young levelled with a well struck shot from the edge of the box after linking well with Leighton Baines, on for the injured Ashley Cole and that should have been the signal for England to go on and take control of the game.
They certainly had enough chances to claim the points but the best of the opportunities fell to Bent who appeared to lack confidence in front of goal, never more so than when he skied over in front of an open goal after Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio had parried Young's low drive.
Then Downing capped a frustrating afternoon when he fired into the side netting from close range with the final kick of the match.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/06/04/england-2-switzerland-2-ashley-young-salvages-draw-but-england/
Stanislas Wawrinka Steve Stricker Steven Gerrard Thierry Henry Thomaz Bellucci
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