Euro 2016: Estonia 0-1 England – Rooney On Target As Three Lions Fail To Roar In Tallinn (Photos & Highlights)

Alan Duffy

12th, October 2014

5 Comments

By Alan Duffy

Estonia 0-1 England – Euro 2016 Qualifying Group E – 12th October 2014

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England produced a rather uninspiring performance away to Estonia on Sunday night. However, courtesy of a second-half Wayne Rooney free-kick, the Three Lions’ kept alive their 100% start to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign which sees them top Group E.

The visitors, with Fabian Delph and Leighton Baines both recalled, struggled to turn their superiority into goals. Jack Wilshere was arguably England’s best player, with the Arsenal man provided a thrust in midfield as well as a much-needed creativity. Indeed, it was the deep-lying midfielder who deftly set up a fine chance for Rooney, only for the Man Utd man to waste the opportunity.

The sending-off of Estonian captain Ragnar Klavan for a second bookable offence just after half-time should have made things much easier for the visitors. However, the home side continued to defend well as England toiled. The introduction of pacey pair Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling gave Roy Hodgson’s men the thrust they needed and it was a foul on Sterling which set up Rooney’s match-winning free-kick.

Not a great performance by any means, but the three points along with Wilshere’s fine display will have pleased Hodgson and co.

Photos…

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Highlights…

Photos: PA

Highlights: Footytube

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5 Comments

  1. Bob says:

    Rooney was just terrible. Absolutely shocking. He should have scored 5 or 6. The one that got me was when Ox chipped it to the back post and all he needed to do was nod it into an open goal but instead did a flying acrobatic volley and ballooned it back out of the area!!!! What WAS that!? The free kick was ok but the keeper really should have palmed it away, he did all the hard work but then tried to catch it and fell into his own net.

    I didn’t think we could get any worse but I was proven wrong. This is a whole new level of crapness I don’t think I have ever seen before.

    And CLYNE!!! START CLYNE FOR GOD SAKE!!!!

  2. Jarren says:

    It doesn’t really matter who England play against, Bob.

    Just get used to fearing teams whose capital city you have to look up on Google.

    We’ve been doing it for years.

    A Northern Ireland supporter

  3. Big Sam says:

    England will need to improve their form if they are to avoid a late season relegation battle with the likes of QPR or Burnley.

  4. Kingsland101 says:

    England: City, Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal, Villa, Man U. Second half Arsenal, Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Man U.

    Estonia: Blackpool, Motherwell, Lots of second division Russian/Swedish etc teams. An Estonian team that once got to the first round of the UEFA cup (purely due to lack of competition) and got immediately knocked out.

    Realistically if these teams were in the English league structure and had the time to coach, build team cohesion etc judged purely on the players England would be mid table PL, probably around 9th or 10th. Estonia would be probably around mid table 2nd division, or lower. Hard to judge.

    So say the 9th or 10th team currently in the PL – Liverpool or Villa played a 10 man Cambridge, Pompey or Newport, currently mid table in L2, and only won by a lucky own goal effectively, from a set piece, this would be wholly unacceptable. On that note if Liverpool or Villa played a team of amateurs (below non-league) and struggled to a 5-0 (with an own goal and a penalty included), at home in a 90k seat stadium, then really…acceptable again? Surely not.

    How can anyone say 9 points from 3 games is all that matters? I’d rather we had lost all 3. At least that way something would have to change because at this point it’s beyond pathetic. I don’t see why the fans should have to accept this ineptitude.

    Seriously, I could do better than Roy, and for £3.5m a year I think I would be expected to.

    Sorry for the long comment.

  5. Tom says:

    @bob agree completely, clyne has been fantastic this season and is unappreciated. I see chambers more as a centre back to be honest, doesn’t really have that pace up the wing to be a modern full back

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