Sport

Win of dubious value for Eriksson

Friendly Internationals: England 2 Serbia & Montenegro 1   It is as well that goals trump all other football memories

Kevin McCarra
Leicester
Wed Jun 04 2003 - 01:00

Friendly Internationals: England 2 Serbia & Montenegro 1   It is as well that goals trump all other football memories. The spectators will recall this match for the curling, free-kick winner by Joe Cole with eight minutes left. West Ham's captain was one of 21 substitutes employed by both managers. This preparatory exercise for England's meeting with Slovakia never had much hope of being an authentic engagement.

Visiting coach Dejan Savicevic seemed to believe that relaxation was the prime purpose of the trip before they move on to a key engagement in Finland. England, with Slovakia to come, were very much in earnest.

Before the half-time substitutions, with their debilitating effect, could occur, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side were eager to show intent and energy before the crowd.They began brightly, with Emile Heskey striving to use aerial power even if the outcome was usually inconclusive. Serbia-Montenegro, as they demonstrated with an equaliser before the interval, had enough pride to avoid becoming ciphers. The technique of the former Yugoslavia lingered on in Vukic and a handful of others.

There was little, all the same, to compare with the polish that gave England the lead in the 35th minute. Gerrard edged himself towards the left through a one-two with Lampard, then picked out the captain Michael Owen and was in position to drive home the striker's low cross first-time.

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In the 45th minute Nenad Jestrovic had a free header. A combination of Ashley Cole and the post kept it out, but the same forward followed up to force the ball over the line.

Cole made England rejoice in earnest in the 82nd minute, however.

ENGLAND: James, Mills (Carragher 61), Southgate (Terry 45), Upson (Barry 85), Ashley Cole (Bridge 46), Phil Neville (Beattie 88), Gerrard (Jenas 46), Lampard (Joe Cole 61), Scholes (Hargreaves 46), Owen (Rooney 45), Heskey (Vassell 61). Subs Not Used: Robinson, Walker. Goals: Gerrard 35, Joe Cole 82.

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO: Jevric (Zilic 67), Mirkovic (Nenad Brnovic 46), Didic (Darko Kovacevic 82), Stefanovic (Krstajic 50), Markovic (Njegus 67), Duljac (Boskovic 47), Kovacedic (Malbasa 46), Dmitrovic (Trobok 46), Sasa Ilic (Mijatovic 68), Zvonimir Vukic (Nenad Djordjevic 46), Jestrovic (Milosevic 74). Booked: Didic. Goals: Jestrovic 45.

Referee: Paul Allaerts (Belgium).