Holland 1 - 1 England

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Wednesday Nov 15 2006 12:00

England produced an improved display but eventually had to settle for a 1-1 draw against a poor Holland side in Amsterdam.

Steve McClaren had been criticised for his team's woeful displays in last month's games against Macedonia and Croatia, but England looked a more coherent outfit against a Dutch side that failed to spark for long periods.

The hosts started brightly though and Paul Robinson was forced to make the first save of the match in the 12th minute when Arjen Robben, who was Holland's most dangerous player throughout the 90 minutes, danced his way into the area and got a shot on goal.

Two minutes later Steven Gerrard should have given England the lead when he latched on to a poor back-pass by Khalid Boulahrouz but opted to shoot too early and Henk Timmer was able to make the save.

When Holland came again, Robinson was forced to claim Urby Emanuelson's cross after Gerrard had let the Dutchman get away from him.

Midway through the first half Robinson raced out of his area to head the ball away from the onrushing Dirk Kuyt but it was England that were starting to get on top.

Joe Cole's cross was half-cleared to Wayne Rooney who headed the ball straight to Timmer when a volley seemed the better option, and Gerrard's clever ball found the Manchester United striker's head but Timmer raced off his line to deny the onrushing Micah Richards - who had a solid debut for England.

Eight minutes before the interval England took the lead thanks to a brilliant curling cross by Joe Cole. As soon as the ball left the Chelsea man's boot it was begging for someone to turn it home and it was Rooney who guided the ball into the net with his heel.

The second half was a tepid affair with England content to soak up the Holland pressure, while the Dutch seemed incapable of unlocking the hard-working visitors defence.

With 19 minutes left, England came within inches of making it 2-0 when Michael Carrick, in acres of space, smashed a 30-yard drive just wide.

England appeared to be cruising to victory until, with four minutes to go, Holland won a throw-in. England defended it poorly and, with the defenders expecting Robinson to come for the ball, it deflected off Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to Rafael van der Vaart who lashed his shot into the net.

There was still time for England to go close to snatching a winner when Gerrard did brilliantly to force his way into the penalty area, but he was unable to get enough power on his shot and substitute goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg made the save.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL TIME: HOLLAND 1-1 ENGLAND.
  • 90
    Great play by Rooney who tricks his way past Mathijsen but Richardson is unable to latch on to the cross.
  • 90
    Gerrard has a great chance to win the game for England but fails to get enough power on his shot and Stekelenburg makes the save.
  • 89
    Robinson comes off his line and does enough to get the ball away from danger - maybe he should have done that three minutes ago.
  • 88
    Holland come again and win a late corner.
  • 86
    HOLLAND 1-1 ENGLAND. A long throw is defended poorly by England and VAN DER VAART is on hand to lash the ball into the net.
  • 85
    Holland's corner is woeful and comes to nothing.
  • 84
    Van Basten brings on Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for Ooijer before the corner is taken.
  • 83
    Seedorf's long-range effort deflects off Ferdinand for a corner.
  • 82
    Richardson and Wright-Phillips have looked lively since coming on, but the rest are going through the motions.
  • 80
    The match is ambling towards a close - Holland have been very poor.
  • 78
    Another change by England - Kieran Richardson for Joe Cole.
  • 77
    Robben has claims for a penalty waved away after tangling with Wright-Phillips.
  • 75
    Ashley Cole is booked for taking too long over a throw-in.
  • 74
    McClaren makes his first change of the game - Shaun Wright-Phillips for Johnson.
  • 71
    Carrick, in acres of space, smashes a 30-yard drive inches wide.
  • 70
    Rooney tries to steer a shot home but Stekelenburg makes the save.
  • 70
    Another van der Vaart shot, another effort drifts wide.
  • 68
    Joe Cole makes space for himself but then loses his balance as his shot drifts wide.
  • 67
    Holland have had all the ball in this half but have done very little with it.
  • 65
    Apart from Robben, Holland are labouring and look a very average side.
  • 63
    England are still in control of the match as the Dutch fail to spark.
  • 61
    Marco van Basten also brings on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for Kuyt.
  • 61
    Boulahrouz limps off and is replaced by Kew Jaliens.
  • 59
    Boulahrouz requires treatment after clashing with Lampard.
  • 58
    Joe Cole does to well to block Kuyt's shot on the edge of the area.
  • 57
    Some slick England passing ends with Joe Cole looping a cross over the bar - a very disappointing end to a promising move.
  • 56
    Ferdinand blocks van der Vaart's shot after Carrick had carelessly given the ball away.
  • 54
    England seem content to sit back and defend their lead, and Holland are struggling to break them down.
  • 52
    Joris Mathijsen intercepts Rooney's intended throughball as England try to launch a counter-attack.
  • 50
    The ball deflects to Seedorf just inside the area but he drags his effort wide.
  • 49
    Van der Vaart, yet again, tries his luck from distance but his shot is straight at Robinson.
  • 48
    It's a low-key start to the second half, which is fine for England.
  • 46
    No changes by England for the second half but Holland have changed goalkeepers - Maarten Stekelenburg is on for Timmer.
  • 46
    Holland get the second half underway.
  • 45
    HALF TIME: HOLLAND 0-1 ENGLAND.
  • 45
    Robinson comes off his line to claim Kuyt's dangerous cross.
  • 43
    Ferdinand stabs Kuyt's cross away from danger as Holland threaten to equalise.
  • 41
    It was a superb cross by Joe Cole for the goal - as soon as it left his boot it was begging for someone to turn it home.
  • 39
    Johnson is almost in on goal until Denny Landzaat gets a foot in to deny the Everton man.
  • 37
    HOLLAND 0-1 ENGLAND. A brilliant curling cross by Joe Cole just needs a touch, and ROONEY gets it with his heel, to give England the lead.
  • 37
    Gerrard's clever ball finds Rooney's head but Timmer races off his line to deny the onrushing Richards - better by England.
  • 35
    Johnson, who seems to be playing everywhere except in attack, crosses just too far ahead of Joe Cole.
  • 33
    A good tackle by Ferdinand on the edge of the area stops another Dutch attack, but Holland have edged the opening third.
  • 31
    Van der Vaart tries his luck again, but his effort from 20 yards out is well wide.
  • 29
    Joe Cole's cross is half-cleared to Rooney who heads the ball straight to Timmer when a volley seemed the better option.
  • 27
    Good inter-play between Seedorf and van der Vaart on the edge of the area until the latter lifts a shot over the bar.
  • 26
    Richards does well to hold Robben up.
  • 26
    Johnson is struggling as he loses control of the ball yet again.
  • 24
    Robinson is forced to race out of his area to head the ball away from the onrushing Kuyt.
  • 22
    England's best move of the game, instigated by Wayne Rooney, ends with Lampard just failing to keep possession inside the area.
  • 20
    Seedorf drills a shot over the bar after an intricate Holland move.
  • 19
    Frank Lampard just fails to latch on to Ashley Cole's long ball forward.
  • 17
    Robinson claims Urby Emanuelson's cross after Gerrard lets the Dutchman get away from him.
  • 15
    Johnson is caught offside from Gerrard's free-kick but England are playing their way back into the match.
  • 14
    Gerrard latches on to a poor back-pass by Khalid Boulahrouz but takes his shot early and Henk Timmer makes the save.
  • 13
    Gerrard's free-kick is dreadful and floats out of play for a throw-in.
  • 12
    Paul Robinson is forced to make the first save as England allow Robben to dance his way into the area and get a shot on goal.
  • 11
    Richards does well to head van der Vaart's dangerous cross away.
  • 10
    Ooijer passes the ball to Johnson on the halfway line but the Everton man fails to take advantage and the break comes to nothing.
  • 8
    Steven Gerrard is forced to get back and head Rafael van der Vaart's cross away.
  • 7
    Richards has settled well - he certainly doesn't look out of place.
  • 5
    Seedorf is unable to capitalise on Michael Carrick's slip but Holland have started brightly.
  • 4
    Rio Ferdinand and Terry dither before Richards makes a crunching tackle inside the penalty area to deny Robben.
  • 2
    John Terry heads the first cross away from danger.
  • 2
    The England fans are in good voice as Holland, in orange shirts, white shorts and blue socks, pass the ball about confidently.
  • 1
    England, in white shirts, get the match underway.
  • 0
    Premiership stars Dirk Kuyt, Arjen Robben and Andre Ooijer start for Holland while Clarence Seedorf returns in midfield.
  • 0
    Manchester City's Micah Richards makes his England debut at the age of 18, while Andy Johnson gets the chance to impress in attack.
  • 0
    Steve McClaren's England side bid to wipe away the memory of last month's woeful displays against Macedonia and Croatia in tonight's friendly against Holland.

Statistics

Holland
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 17
Offsides 3
Corners 5

England
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 3
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 8
Offsides 7
Corners 2

See Live Commentary