Bent goal eases strain on England at the finish

Switzerland 1 England 3:ENGLAND DOMINATED much of this Euro 2012 qualifer yet still needed endurance after the injured Theo Walcott and Jermain Defoe were both borne away on stretchers.

An eventually spirited Switzerland even reduced the deficit despite having Stephan Lichtsteiner sent off, before Darren Bent, following an Ashley Cole pass, then scored his first international goal.

That excellent drive in the 88th minute granted his team the sense of comfort they had deserved after a show of authority that was sustained from the early moments.

Wayne Rooney is scarcely the type to go into hiding merely because of the coverage of his private life. He could have done no more to claim prominence than to put England into the lead after 10 minutes with his first international goal since September 2009.

Glen Johnson’s cut-back was turned in by the Manchester United player, but the move had been initiated by Walcott. The Arsenal attacker then continued into the goalmouth, where he took a blow to the right ankle in the general melee.

The winger was carried from the pitch and there had to be concerns for him although he sat up and looked composed while being ferried to the tunnel en route to a hospital X-ray. Adam Johnson came on to fill the vacancy and it was a promising post to inherit.

Rooney was soon making further inroads although Adam Johnson’s attempt to convert the cross ended with a first-time miscue that sent the ball behind.

Capello’s only concern would have been that the opposition might start to feel relieved that their situation was not beyond recovery. Endurance has been their key trait under Ottmar Hitzfeld.

England had been buoyant for an hour and that period ended with Glen Johnson’s low shot being tipped round the post. Switzerland then began to find enterprise as they stretched England’s defence, but Hitzfeld’s team were then reduced to 10 men.

With 65 minute gone, the right back Lichtsteiner brought down James Milner to receive a second yellow card from the Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli.

England’s command looked misleadingly complete when Steven Gerrard put Johnson through and the Manchester City player took the ball away from Benaglio before finishing.

England were not truly in control with teenager Xherdan Shaqiri cutting the deficit with a marvellous drive from distance.

Guardian Service

SWITZERLAND: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Grichting, Von Bergen, Ziegler; Degen (Streller, 64 mins ), Inler, Schwegler (Costanzo, 83 mins), Margairaz (Shaqiri, 46 mins); Derdiyok, Frei. Subs not used: Wolfli, Affolter, Padalino, Fernandes.

ENGLAND: Hart; G Johnson, Jagielka, Lescott, Cole; Walcott (A Johnson, 13 mins), Gerrard, Barry, Milner; Defoe (Bent, 70 mins), Rooney (Wright-Phillips, 79 mins). Subs not used: Foster, Gibbs, Cahill, Carrick.

Referee: N Rizzoli(Italy).