England: first-half
England overcame a further obstacle to qualification for World Cup 2010, but the experience was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests. Fabio Capello arranged England under a 4-3-3 formation with Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott on the flanks either side of Emile Heskey. Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrrard and Frank Lampard comprised the midfield trio. England toiled in the first half but appeared bereft of attacking ideas and created little of note. Walcott started brightly: he took on his marker with some success and also made space to dispatch a decent left-foot effort from just outside the box which sailed over the bar. However, he faded as the half progressed and England failed to muster attacking ideas from any other source.
Capello switched the formation to 4-4-2 in the second-half, bringing on Shaun Wright-Phillips for Barry. England looked more comfortable in the second period playing under this system. They went ahead early in the half when Rio Ferdinand headed in a Lampard corner. Kazakhstan caused England problems, however, particularly with the running of Kukeyev down the left and Nasserbayev through the middle. England managed to extend their lead though, when a Lampard free-kick was flicked by Kazakh defender Kuchma into his own net. The visitors did manage a reply but this was courtesy of an absurd crossfield lob by Ashley Cole which gifted Kukeyev clear site of goal and his shot beat David James.
England bounced back and took control of what could have become a nervy fixture. With about 15 minutes remaining Wes Brown provided a good cross from the right and Rooney headed powerfully home. Rooney added a further goal ten minutes later: he pounced inside the six yard box with the Kazakhstan defence in disarray following a free-kick from substitute David Beckham. Another substitute Jermain Defoe scored the fifth as full-time approached. He converted coolly after Heskey had played him through for a run at goal.
England: second-half
The score should not mask England’s deficiencies: they generally struggled to break down the Kazakhstan defence and three goals came from set pieces. England’s defence also experienced a few shaky moments with Cole having an evening to forget. England looked better in the second-half with a 4-4-2 formation and Rooney positioned centrally, and they deserve some credit for killing off a game which could have become tight and cagey.
It is perhaps England’s midfield which will attract the most scrutiny with perennial questions unresolved. In the second period both Lampard and Gerrard sat quite deep, with Walcott and Wright-Phillips advanced on the flanks. Lampard became increasingly effective in the second-half and was always tidy in possession. Gerrard also improved (after a poor first-half) and, whilst he was far from a marauding presence, his passing was generally neat and he played a couple of impressive long-range balls. However, we were reminded of the shortcoming of a Gerrard-Lampard axis on the hour mark of this fixture: Lampard challenged for a ball upfield, Kazakhstan broke and with Gerrard wrong-footed, Nasserbayev was allowed to commence a run which culminated at England’s goal-line. Against stronger opposition, the lack of a natural defensive midfielder could thus prove more costly.
7 Frank Lampard: Highly influential and two assists from set-pieces.
6 Wayne Rooney: Out-of-touch in the first-half but bagged two second-half goals.
6 Rio Ferdinand: Generally sound.
6 Matthew Upson: Jittery start but more composed as the game progressed.
6 Wes Brown: Defensively secure but little attacking presence, although he delivered for Rooney’s first.
6 Gareth Barry: Quietly capable with some decent distribution.
6 Emile Heskey: A bustling presence, but do England need a target man who can contribute the occasional goal?5 Steven Gerrard: Poor in the first period, but more solid in the second.
5 David James: Still unconvincing.
5 Theo Walcott: Really bright for the first 20 minutes but faded badly.
5 Shaun Wright-Phillips: Provided some energy on the left, but usually expended down blind alleys.4 Ashley Cole: An error-strewn performance.