In England's hands!
11/17 - Israel defeated Russia 2-1 tonight to place qualification for Euro 2008 squarely back in England's hands. A draw against Croatia on Wednesday at fortress Wembley will see England through to next Summer's tournament in Austria and Switzerland. It will be an exciting match with everything to play for! Go England!!
Austria 0 - 1 England
England beat Austria 1-0. England's only goal and match winner was scored by Peter Crouch and assisted by David Beckham when Peter Crouch nodded home from a David Beckham corner shortly before half-time. Becks was substituted about 15 minutes into the second-half as he is still returning to full match fitness.
The BBC Match report said "Beckham, who came off for David Bentley in the second half, showed the 4,500 travelling support what they had been missing, conducting England's play from deep in midfield during his time on the pitch," you can read the full report here and a good write up on Becks performance online here thanks to Ben.
First of the photos of David Beckham from the match are in the gallery.
Press quotes
(Source) Here are some post-match comments from David Beckham -On reaching 100 Caps for England: "Not getting to 100 caps is not preying on my mind at all. I am not thinking about that... All I am thinking about is the team qualifying for the competition next summer. These games are not about David Beckham reaching 100 caps."
"It is about the England team reaching the European finals and that is the most important thing, not achieving personal milestones... What is important, if we are given the chance, is we have to be ready for the Croatia game."
On the Croatia Game: "We can't make excuses. We have to be ready for Croatia and, if other teams slip up, we need to take advantage. But we will probably need to win the game whatever has happened elsewhere."
On his fitness: "For the the opening 10-15 minutes, it was tough going out there for me but I soon got a sort of a second wind... The good thing is that my injury worries are gone. I feel fine and raring to go. I've got a couple of games under my belt since I got back fit and some good training and it's going okay."
Becks blog update!
Hi everyone,
Well, it’s been quite a busy week for me.
The Galaxy played another friendly against Minnesota last week which we drew 1-1 but eventually won on penalties. It was a great game and I managed to get more minutes under my belt and build up my match fitness ahead of the England games.
I have been training with the England team this week. It is always good to be home and it’s been great to see all the England lads again and work hard for the friendly against Austria on Friday and of course, the important Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia next Wednesday. Obviously, we need results elsewhere to go our way before the Croatia game, but we’re confident that we can get the right result next Wednesday.
I’d also like to welcome Ruud Gullit to LA Galaxy as the new manager of the club. Ruud was one of the world’s greatest players, winning almost everything in the game and also managing some of the biggest clubs in England, including Chelsea. I’m sure he’ll bring class, experience and a tactical know-how to the club and I’m really looking forward to working with him, starting with the Galaxy’s tour to Australia and New Zealand later this month. I’m also really pleased that Cobi Jones has been made Ruud’s number two. He’s a great guy who knows the club and the league inside out and will make a great Assistant Coach.
That’s all for now
David
posted by rpm at 2:06 PM
28 Comments:
Well done Becks!!
3:01 PM
the wait for tomorrows match is doing me head in. If next Wednesday counts and I hope it will then having a friendly at this time could be expensive as losing Owen is a blow
Good to see the lad get a run out and setting up a goal will have been a boost for him
3:47 PM
It was a good match. As was the U-21 victory earlier. I thought David performed very well and one commentator was quite bitter about Becks, on the broadcast I watched...to each his own, but he wanted to slam Becks at every turn. It was nice to see David back in the thick of the England team. Now I'm praying for the right result tomorrow... And those were some tense moments w/ the Austrian GK--any time the phrase "swallowed his tongue" is bandied about now I think of watching Antonio Puerta. :(
4:02 PM
the commentator said he didn't look anywhere near fit and that's true but he was still the one who set up the only goal. Maybe we wouldn't all be biting our nails if McLaren had picked him from the start of the campaign instead of being such a total knob. Anyway fingers and toes crossed for Israel
4:05 PM
Thanks for the pictures Anna :-) Did David do media after the game?
5:26 PM
I'm too supersticious to say anything but how lovely it was to come home to the result, the assist, and the quote from the BBC match report!
:) :) :) for now, and many digits recrossed for tomorrow...while trying to remember to breath.
6:03 PM
I'm so nervous now! I wish we knew the result of the Israel-Russia game already so we knew where we stood all this waiting around is painful!! I'm so glad David got a corner and that McClaren didn't make him play the full game this time as hes not fit...he should have done the same in the last friendly too!
It's a great pity about Michael too. I hope he will be ok!
6:59 PM
Todays the day! at last! Hope Israel can do us a favour!! Wonder where Becks and the England boys will be watching it
1:03 AM
He looked quite sad in some of the pics do you know why?
5:11 AM
I don't know if he was 'sad' he might have been a little frustrated with a couple of his passes - the camera doesn't 'lie' but it can create a false impression by snapping someone a split second before they break into a smile, or look up or whatever :)
Pru there are quotes out this morning but the recorded interviews on the BBC and Skysport sites were with Lampard and Crouch so the quotes this morning may have come from an FA hand out they sometimes do that
7:03 AM
Great piece in The Mirror. Between that and Ray Wilkins there are at least two writers willing to go against whatever the fashionable thing to say about Becks is at the moment. He's not fawning, just respectful, and how spot on is this:
"If he's still holding his own, it doesn't matter where he plays, who he lives with or how hot it is in Los Angeles this time of year."
EXACTLY, those things never seem to matter for any of the other players who are millionares and do underwear ads (and/or engage in criminal behavior) .
Good luck today to our boys and to all England and Becks supporters!!! Oops, and of course to Israel ;-) !
7:34 AM
Good game for Becks against Austria.
Hopefully they will qualify. Fingers crossed.
8:04 AM
diane, like you i read the article in the mirror by oliver holt and i agree he has written a very respectful piece [ as usual ]. It sums up everything that we have all been saying on this site for a long time ,especially the bit about McClaren playing "gesture politics with beckhams career".Yes it did backfire on him yet i still hope that he keeps his job because that means we will have qualified.may be i am being too nieve but i like to think that privately McClaren realises that he was wrong to make david a scapegoat. well done david and everything crossed for tonight. x x
8:57 AM
Israel are winning 1-0!!! Yippeee!! go Israel
10:20 AM
Israel are up a goal at the half. It's looking promising :-))) Just need Israel to hang in there
11:02 AM
1-1 It's time to harness the power of prayer!!
11:29 AM
Come on Israel!!
11:53 AM
OMG!!! 2-1 to Israel! God is english :-) LOL
11:55 AM
woo hooo!! This should mean England will only need a draw against Croatia - not to jinx anything - runs off to find salt to toss over shoulder :)
11:57 AM
Yay! well done Israel. Now we'll see what kind of heart the English boys have on wednesday.
11:58 AM
Fantastic! I think the lads will do it I'm sure they'll have plenty of heart and be up for a fight and the crowd will be the 12th man
12:11 PM
I am an Israel fan for life!!! And not just for the favour to England -- those young men were fierce with nothing to play for but their pride, and their fans possibly more so! Have to go google their goalie ;-) ...
12:21 PM
What an amazing match Israel vs. Russia. It felt like Israel were fighting hard for us. (Though that's probably ridiculous, they knew what was at stake for England.) So now it's up to us to bring the goods. It's a shame about Owen but Becks looked like he was well en route to fully fit yesterday with some bursts of passionate play, and at least no sign of pain. We'll need our midfield in good form.
12:22 PM
Hello guys,I'm a girl from China. I really expect to see the match between England and Croatia.Cause it is the hard-won chance for me to see Becks playing football.But I haven't gotten the ticket yet.It is possible now? Please tell me and help me.Thank you~
1:05 PM
Anna, that "harness the power of prayer" line had me giggling. Didn't know if you were being serious or not and I didn't wan't to say anything to offend in case you were that serious.
1:27 PM
Everyone in england will have to buy everyone in israel a beer :-)
Thanks for the quotes Anna!
5:48 PM
Anonymous I don't know if I fully understand what you are asking. However I believe Wednesday's match against Crotia is sold out sorry and I will post all the TV details closer to the time.
Scilla! I was very very serious!! Supporting England is always a religious experience I can't remember the last time they qualified for a championship without Jesus, Joseph and Mary, all the saints, Buddha, Ganesh and the spirits of the ancient world having to be summoned :)
3:47 AM
LOL at the religious experience anna!
I woke up Sunday morning berating if I'd go to church and attend mass but when I learned that Israel won against Russia, I just had to go to church! LOL!
5:01 PM
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