SM
Ukraine vs. Belgium: 15 hrs 50 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
EN
International Friendlies
Jun 4, 2014 at 8pm UK
 
EN

2-2

Valencia (8'), Arroyo (70')
Valencia (79')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Rooney (29'), Lambert (51')
Sterling (79')

England's hits and misses against Ecuador

:Headline: England's hits and misses against Ecuador: ID:158400: from db_amp
Sports Mole takes a look at who impressed and who didn't during England's 2-2 draw with Ecuador on Wednesday night.

A second-half equaliser from Ecuador's Michael Arroya ensured that England could only record a 2-2 draw in their penultimate warm-up match before the start of the World Cup finals in Brazil.

Enner Valencia had given La Tri an eighth-minute lead before goals from Wayne Rooney and Rickie Lambert either side of the break put the Three Lions in control. However, Arroya's 25-yard strike evened things up, and manager Roy Hodgson would have taken positives and negatives from the encounter in Miami.

Below, Sports Mole assesses who strengthened their chances of earning a starting place against Italy on June 14, and which players may have slipped down the pecking order after a mixed 90 minutes in Florida.

Hits:

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missed the final few weeks of the domestic season through injury, but he soon showed what Arsenal supporters had been missing with an aggressive, attack-minded performance that gave England a different dimension.

His bursts down the right-hand side were a constant feature during a lively display in the opening 45 minutes, and his cross resulted in the confusion in the penalty area that allowed Rooney to tap home his 39th international goal.

However, the 20-year-old's night was soured when he was forced to leave the action early in the second half through injury, and with Hodgson admitting that it looks like ligament damage, he faces an anxious wait regarding his participation in Brazil.

Ross Barkley

In what was his first start on the international stage, Ross Barkley showed why he is considered England's brightest young talent with an incisive performance behind Rickie Lambert.

As Hodgson alluded to after the game, Barkley's decision-making wasn't perfect, but at this stage of his career, the shackles should be off the Everton man and his showing in Miami displayed a lot of promise for the future.

After a solid opening 45 minutes, Barkley had the crowd on their feet with a couple of direct runs towards the Ecuador defence, with the 20-year-old playing a pivotal role in setting up Lambert for England's second of the game.

Rickie Lambert

After Andy Carroll returned to full fitness near the end of the season, some questioned whether Rickie Lambert should retain his place in the international setup, but the Liverpool striker's performance on Wednesday hinted that Hodgson was right to place faith in the 32-year-old.

Hodgson will be delighted that Lambert's confidence on the international stage is growing by the game, and the part that he played in both of England's goals could see him move into contention for the Italy match.

Lambert is unlikely to start that fixture, but after his presence in the penalty area contributed to the first goal and his cool finish inside the box resulted in a second, Hodgson knows that the former Southampton man could become a valuable asset in Brazil.

Misses:

Chris Smalling

After missing out on the European Championship in 2012, Chris Smalling has established himself as a regular part of England's squad, and despite an average campaign with Manchester United, his place in Brazil was never in too much doubt.

However, while Smalling's versatility is seen as a plus among many, it also results in the 24-year-old being unable to consistency improve in one position, and his weakness in the centre of defence was, at times, exposed in Miami.

The former Fulham man was partly to blame for Ecuador's opener after failing to get his head to a cross, and while he had no involvement in the South American side's second, this wasn't the convincing display that Smalling would have been hoping for ahead of the World Cup.

James Milner

Like with Smalling, James Milner's ability to adapt to a number of positions effectively assures him of a place in any England squad, and the Manchester City player was given the opportunity to try to impress at right-back against Ecuador.

However, as rumours persist that he could start against Italy, this wasn't a comfortable night for Milner as he found it difficult to cope with the pace of Jefferson Montero on the flank.

The 28-year-old also found himself being partly culpable for both of Ecuador's goals, and while he improved when restored to central-midfield, this wasn't a good night for one of England's more reliable performers.

Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard has long been an integral part of England's starting lineup, but at the age of 35, the England vice captain is beginning to slow in the middle of the park and it's having a negative influence on his team's attempts to win back possession.

The departing Chelsea man is still a threat on the ball, especially in and around the penalty area, but he has lost a yard of pace, which doesn't fit in with the style of play that Hodgson is trying to enforce.

Lampard has a role to play in Brazil, but it is likely to come in the final 20 minutes of matches as England try to defend a scoreline or throw caution to the wind during the closing stages.

amp_article__158400 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2014-06-07 09:03:04:
html db last update - 2014-06-07 09:03:04 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .