By Myles Palmer
England 4 Mexico 0
Did Owen/Fowler/Heskey work well?
No, because Heskey played badly and conceded a dumb penalty, tripping Osorno.
But Abundis knocked the penalty past the post.
After three minutes Scholes scored a typical Scholes goal from 25 yards,running onto a short pass by Gerrard.
Bang! A right foot shot just inside the post, four feet off the ground. Nobody, but nobody, does it better.
When Gerrard tried a cross Fowlers brave cushion-header just went wide as the keeper came at him(5 minutes).
Then Beckham released Gerrard on the right and his cross had a lot of pace on it as it bounced towards Fowler and the centreback.
A right foot finish, first time, was super-slick, a demonstration of minimalist genius. He did not kick it – he just let the ball hit his right instep and it flashed into the net(14).
Robbie Fowler is the only Premiership player, of any nationality, who could have scored that particular goal off that cross.
It needed sublime confidence and finesse and relaxation and experience to score such a sweet half-volley.
In that moment you saw why Fowler scored 100 goals for Liverpool in fewer games than Ian Rush.
Just after that the keeper made a phenomenal save from a Fowler left-footer that was going just inside the post.
I remember talking to Ted Powell once about Robbie. Powell managed the England Under-18 team who were European Champions. He said Robbie was a bit like Yeboah, a left footed finisher who also had a good right foot.
Beckham’s free kick over the wall was good for 3-0, and it was surprising to see Sheringham come on and score the same goal with an even better free-kick(74).
Conclusion? If Houllier does not start Owen, Heskey and Fowler together, Eriksson should not.If Heskey was a black Merson it could work, but he lacks the skill to use the ball like Merson.
But,against that, Steve Gerrard could make 4-3-3 work. His vision and early delivery make England very direct and powerful and penetrating.
Ince could not make 4-3-3 work. Batty couldn’t. Wise couldn’t. But maybe Gerrard can make 4-3-3 work.
Four games, four wins by Sven. And he is still lucky, as Mexico missed a penalty at 3-0. Made no difference to the result but 4-0 looks a lot more emphatic than 3-1.
Studio pundit Alan Shearer was chuffed and I enjoyed seeing Alan’s magnificent tie knot. It was huge.It was mega.It was as big as his head.
England will be much more nervous in Athens on June 6th. And they will not score against Greece after three minutes.
ENGLAND(4-4-2): Martyn (James, h-t); P Neville, Keown (Carragher, h-t), Ferdinand (Southgate, h-t),Ashley Cole (Powell, h-t); Beckham (J Cole, h-t), Gerrard (Butt, h-t), Scholes (Carrick, h-t), Heskey(Mills, 67min); Owen (Smith, h-t), Fowler (Sheringham, 55).
MEXICO (3-4-1-2): Sanchez; Beltran, Suarez, Oteo; Chavez, V Ruiz (Osorno, 58min), Coyote (Rangel,78), M Ruiz; Rodriguez; De Nigris, Abundis.
Referee: Lucilio Cardoso Cortez (Portugal)
25th May 2001.