England’s Hope for 2010

Wednesday night showed fans why Beckham is still England’s golden boy. All night he sat in the middle of the park spaying balls left and right with laser like accuracy. The amount of times he picked out Cole, Young, Walcott or Johnson on the by-line was incredible. He even fortuitously set up Defoe’s second goal, albeit with a bit of help from Andorra’s goalkeeper.

Rooney also had a half to behold. The quality of his second goal underlines his performances all season in an England shirt and also why Charlton’s 49 goal record doesn’t look to far off. His movement stretched an ageing Andorra defence, and it can only bode well for South Africa that he appears to be coming of age as a player.

Pompey’s very own Glen Jonson also impressed, playing a part in five of the six goals, and as a result picking up the man of the match award. He played most of the 90 minutes as a right winger and never looked out of place after playing much of the season there for Pompey. His quality of delivery for both of Rooney’s goals summed up a superb performance and has surely booked his place as England’s premier right back for the near future.

At the start of his reign many England fans were sceptical of Cappello and how he would take us forward as a footballing nation, who in recent years has flattered to deceive. The way England have cruised through this qualifying campaign, after an admittedly slow start against Andorra, has surely confounded any critics the Italian may have had.

Fans can only hope that the players do not become complacent and finish this campaign with ten wins out of ten to really set England up for the summer of 2010 and just maybe end 44 years of hurt.