World Cup 2010 …
(REUTERS) – England beat local side Platinum Stars 3-0 in the Three Lions’ final warm-up match for the World Cup, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney grabbing the goals yesterday. Defoe finished from close range in the opening minutes, Steven Gerrard pulling back from the by-line after Shaun Wright-Phillips had sliced open the Stars defence with a through-ball.
Soon after the South African club side won a penalty when Glen Johnson was harshly penalised for a foul, but Bradley Grobler blazed the spot-kick over.
His team were mainly restricted to long-range strikes, but caused Joe Hart and Robert Green – in goal either side of the break – one or two problems with those.
Crouch and Wright-Phillips both saw first-half goals ruled out for offside as England attempted to prise apart their opponents, with less success than in the opening minutes.
Fabio Capello changed his entire line-up at halftime, with the exception of Joe Cole, who completed 90 minutes and fittingly, it was Cole who scored the second, finishing with aplomb.
The Manchester United striker and Emile Heskey had replaced Crouch and Defoe, and there was a great contrast between the pair.
While Rooney looked lively, Heskey was lethargic. Rooney even tried to set up his partner when it seemed easier to score – and the Villa man made a mess of trying to find Aaron Lennon in turn, who had instigated the move.
With the sun fading as the second period wore on, the intensity of their play increased. Heskey, Milner and Joe Cole should have added further strikes as the Three Lions began to dominate in midfield.
Before the Cole chance Rooney did however make it three, lashing home James Milner’s ball across in the last five minutes.
Defoe removed his right boot and limped slightly as he left the field at the break, but England appeared to have come through the match without any genuine injury worries ahead of their World Cup opener against the United States.