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Switzerland national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Sep 8, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
England national football team

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Welbeck (59', 94')

Player Ratings: Switzerland 0-2 England

Sports Mole takes a look at who impressed during England's 2-0 victory over Switzerland in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier this evening.

England's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign got off to a perfect start this evening as the Three Lions ran out 2-0 winners over Switzerland in Basel.

Danny Welbeck netted both goals for the visitors, finishing off a quick counter just before the hour mark and sealing the points deep into stoppage time with a composed finish.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at who impressed as Roy Hodgson's side gained the early initiative in Group E.


Raheem Sterling of England shoots past Stephan Lichtsteiner (2) and Valon Behrami of Switzerland (11) during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E qualifying match between Switzerland and England at St Jakob-Park on September 8, 2014© Getty Images

SWITZERLAND

Goal

Yann Sommer: Made a stunning stop to deny Jones at the end of the first half, but could do nothing about either goal. Played fairly well despite conceding twice. (7/10)

Defence

Stephan Lichtsteiner: Was expected to be more of an attacking threat, but Baines dealt with him well down the flank. Solid performance, but not as effective as usual. (6/10)

Johan Djourou: Caught ball-watching for Phil Jones's chance at the end of the first half and also put in a risky challenge on Delph inside the box. Did make a couple of important interceptions and tackles as well, though. (6/10)

Steve von Bergen: Gifted England a first-half chance with a poor clearance, but otherwise had a solid enough game. Couldn't really do anything to prevent either goal as England's pace on the break caught the hosts out. (6/10)

Richardo Rodriguez: Like Lichtsteiner on the opposite flank, his attacking influence was stunted more than usual. Did have a couple of bright moments when his side were on top, but nothing to hugely affect the game. (6/10)

Midfield

Valon Behrami: Battled away in midfield and did a good job of keeping Sterling quiet for long periods, even if his techniques were not always legal. (6/10)

Gokhan Inler: Also played his part in an intriguing midfield battle that ended up just about even. Had an effort fly just over but, other than that, wasn't able to have much of a say going forward. (6/10)

Granit Xhaka: Taken off with 15 minutes remaining having failed to have a huge impact on the match. Showed a few flashes, but not enough to unduly worry the England defence. (6/10)

Attack

Xherdan Shaqiri: Was touted as his side's dangerman, but was unable to show exactly why from a wide position as Baines coped with the threat well. Was more involved when he moved inside, but still couldn't conjure anything up for his side. (6/10)

Haris Seferovic: The hosts' most dangerous player on the night. Threatened the defence on a couple of occasions but struggled to make a huge difference with little service. (7/10)

Admir Mehmedi: Was replaced with just over 25 minutes to go having struggled to get the better of Stones down the wing. (6/10)

Substitutes

Josip Drmic: Came on for Mehmedi and immediately provided more of a threat. Should have scored when he raced on to a through-ball and rounded Hart, but was denied by a fine piece of defending from Cahill on the line. (7/10)

Blerim Dzemaili: Replaced Xhaka with 15 minutes remaining but couldn't alter the course of the match for his side. (6/10)


Danny Welbeck of England shoots past goalkeeper Yann Sommer of Switzerland to score their first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E qualifying match between Switzerland and England at St Jakob-Park on September 8, 2014© Getty Images

ENGLAND

Goal

Joe Hart: Made a couple of fine stops to protect his side's clean sheet. Didn't have too much to do on the night, but was alert and ready whenever called upon. (7/10)

Defence

John Stones: Another solid display from the youngster. Didn't have a huge say on the way the match went, but did a good job of keeping his men quiet on the right flank. (6/10)

Gary Cahill: Made a vital goal-line clearance to keep his side 1-0 ahead in the second half. Didn't do a great deal other than that, but that interception was crucial and was just as important as Welbeck's opener. (7/10)

Phil Jones: Was denied by a fabulous save in the dying stages of the first half, but also almost gifted the Swiss a goal with a poor pass in a very dangerous position. Was forced off with what looked like a hamstring strain in the 77th minute. (6/10)

Leighton Baines: Up and down the left flank all game, making important contributions at both ends of the field. Always gave the visitors an attacking option and dealt with the dangerous duo of Shaqiri and Lichtsteiner well. (7/10)

Midfield

Jack Wilshere: Deployed at the base of the diamond, but will need a little more discipline about his game if he is to stay there. Made some good breaks with the ball and contributed a few times in an attacking sense, but that was not his role this evening. Forced Sterling to come deep a few times due to his unfamiliar positioning. Not a bad performance in general, but not exactly what Hodgson would have wanted from a holding midfielder. (6/10)

Jordan Henderson: A typically industrious performance from the Liverpool man, who linked up well with club teammate Sterling on a few occasions. (6/10)

Fabian Delph: Made a couple of rash challenges early on and was right to be booked after just nine minutes. Calmed down shortly afterwards, however, and showed some good touches on the ball. The first 10 minutes aside, a strong full debut for the Villa man. (7/10)

Raheem Sterling: Not as bright as he was against Norway, but still involved in both goals. His cross for Welbeck was perfect, while it was his ball that released Lambert in the build-up for the second. Wasted a good chance early on with a poor pass to Rooney and made some bad decisions in the final third, but that never lessened his desire to get on the ball. Was given close attention from the Swiss midfield, but dealt with it well. (7/10)

Attack

Wayne Rooney: Better from the skipper as he got himself more involved in the match than he was against Norway. Started the break that led to the opening goal and had a couple of other sharp moments throughout. (7/10)

Danny Welbeck: Took his two goals well, dealing with a bouncing ball to fire the first home and showing good composure to kill the game off with his second. Other than his goals, actually had a relatively poor game, with his first touch letting him down on a number of occasions. Also wasted a glorious chance in the first half with an over-hit pass to Sterling, but recovered well from that to make the match-winning contribution. A mixed bag on the whole, but must be happy with an international brace. (7/10)

Substitutes

James Milner: Came on for his 50th England cap, replacing Wilshere in the 73rd minute as Switzerland began increasing the pressure. (6/10)

Phil Jagielka: Replaced Jones with just under 15 minutes remaining and made a string of important interceptions to keep the hosts at bay. (7/10)

Rickie Lambert: Only had a few minutes on the field having replaced Rooney as the clock ticked into stoppage time, but was still able to grab an assist and a yellow card. (7/10)


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England's coach Roy Hodgson gestures during the Group D football match between Costa Rica and England at The Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte on June 24, 2014
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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