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Shearer and Sheringham lead England's front line in this friendly international.
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00:00161 caps between them, and only Scholes with five caps as a relative newcomer.
00:05Cascoyne, remember, is injured. Wright is almost ready.
00:09He's picked a side looking for a morale-boosting victory.
00:12I think Glenn Huddle's shown his hand tonight.
00:15This is like the tried-and-trusted line-up now.
00:18Three at the back, Neville flanking Tony Adams and Campbell.
00:23We'll have as wing-backs, you'll have Beckham and Lusso,
00:26two midfield minors, Paulins and David Batty.
00:28Scholes and Sheringham, advanced midfield players to support the lone striker Alan Shearer.
00:35Well, the Portuguese, they say, are the best side not to qualify for the World Cup Finals.
00:40They've got quality players right through their team, like Demast of Juventus,
00:44Cotto and Figo of Barcelona, Sosa of Inter Milan,
00:49and Scottish fans will certainly recall Georges Cadet, 25 goals he scored for Celtic last season
00:55before he went back to Portugal.
00:57And added to all those stars, Brian, look for number four, Roberto Beto.
01:01He could well be the next big player to move from Portugal.
01:05They'll play two central defenders, full-back slightly pushed on.
01:09Paulo Santos will sit in front of the back people and possibly get marking either Scholes or Sheringham.
01:14Up front they'll play Cadet and Pinto and a very flexible midfield.
01:18They'll chop and change and move around an awful lot in midfield.
01:22He comes under closer scrutiny.
01:25Now the countdown truly is on towards the World Cup in France.
01:29Just what are we looking for tonight, Ron Atkinson?
01:32I think Glenn Hoddle will be looking very much for the cohesion of the side.
01:35This is going to be the way of playing the majority of games.
01:38And these will be the bulk of the players.
01:40And I think he's looking now to see them get that unity.
01:43They were starting to develop round about the time of the victory or the win we went through in Rome.
01:49It's Batty with the header.
01:51Showing and playing it back.
01:53They've given away the number eight to Pinto.
02:02Lesseau hitting it forward.
02:03Shearer trying to get away from his marker.
02:09But Cotto doing some good work in the air for Portugal.
02:17Now a bit of space opening up here.
02:21Beckham.
02:22For Batty.
02:26Ince.
02:28Paul Lesseau.
02:29Think a good movement for England in these opening minutes.
02:34And...
02:36That's the only thing that concerns me a little bit, you know, when you're asking defenders to do the wide
02:40job.
02:41I mean, Lesseau's a good little player.
02:42He's played a lot of games in wide areas when he first started.
02:46There's his cross.
02:47And it's in for Shearer.
02:55The perfect start for England.
02:58And Alan Shearer gets his first goal for England back since the Tournois.
03:03Last summer.
03:05And a typical Shearer goal is...
03:06Watch how he pulls on the defender.
03:08A lovely whip to cross from Lesseau.
03:10Pulls on the defender and dives right in front of him for the header.
03:14Terrific start.
03:15Terrific goal.
03:15Two crosses in.
03:17He loses Beto on that one completely.
03:19So England a goal up in the first five minutes.
03:30Sosa.
03:33This is Figo.
03:35This is Pinto.
03:36This is Figo!
03:38Oh!
03:39My goodness!
03:40I thought that had just gone in.
03:41That was a beautiful move.
03:43And a very canny piece of play by Figo right at the end there.
03:47And some excellent work too by Pinto.
03:49Yeah, this is an area I'm worried about.
03:51They're letting forwards drop off them.
03:53Beautiful little interplay.
03:54And he just hasn't got enough on the ball.
03:56But look at that for Cheek.
03:59Look at that.
04:00There you think it's a goal.
04:01Without a doubt.
04:02And it tantalizingly goes away.
04:06Figo again.
04:09And now England have got hold of it.
04:14I think it was Pinto's miss there wasn't it?
04:16Yeah, Joe Pinto has missed an absolute hitter there from Cadets ball.
04:19Cadets cut him back an open goal.
04:21And that'll be one of the worst misses of his career.
04:25I mean the defence get into trouble here.
04:28They make a mess of it.
04:29Cadet drives.
04:30See just in time.
04:32Perhaps flies at him a little bit.
04:34You might say that in his defence.
04:35But it actually on the replay looked a harder chance than it was.
04:40Santos and Sheringham puts the ball quite comfortably into the keeper's arms.
04:44A throw out.
04:45And it's Collado.
04:53That's Figo on the far side.
04:55It is.
04:59Off we got in the way.
05:01A bit there.
05:02To England's advantage too.
05:03Batty.
05:04Finding Sheringham.
05:05Finding Scholes.
05:06Finding Shearer.
05:07Good run.
05:08Lesseau has made a terrific run.
05:10Here's Lesseau.
05:11And that's a terrific save.
05:13And a wonderful move by England.
05:15From one end of the field to the other.
05:17The crowd are on their feet.
05:18They thought that was absolutely fantastic which it was.
05:20Well that's brilliant football all the way through.
05:23Cadet.
05:26Still with Figo.
05:27That's a good shot.
05:29And Seaman again stood up strong.
05:32But it was hit with such power.
05:33You fancy that if it had been a yard and a half either side of him.
05:36And the England manager is a little less than happy.
05:40With the way his defence at the moment are performing.
05:45Shearer.
05:45Feeding Sheringham.
05:47Scholes is in the middle.
05:48Beckham is making up pace.
05:49Can Beckham?
05:50Yes.
05:50Here's Beckham.
05:51Oh.
05:52Terrific stuff again.
05:53And a good save that time from Bahia.
05:55But a great run by David Beckham.
05:57And played in beautifully by Sheringham.
05:59I mean that's all about the weight of passes.
06:01Good ball out of Sheringham.
06:03Shapes as if he's going to cross it.
06:04Beckham's been on his bike.
06:06And when he first clipped that I thought he'd scored then.
06:10He recovered so well.
06:12Because it looked as though he wouldn't be able to pick that pass up.
06:13But he picked it up beautifully.
06:15And as you saw got that superb shot in.
06:17Well saved by Bahia.
06:19Here's the England corner.
06:21And knocked away by Dimas.
06:26That was a terrific save by Seaman.
06:30That's the value of having a big goalkeeper that knows how to spread himself well.
06:33But Pinto's missed another good chance.
06:35As Figo drives in.
06:36There's a little bit of bobbling.
06:39And rebounds into his path there.
06:41Off Adams.
06:42And Pinto should really have had his second goal of the night.
06:46In goes Lesseau.
06:49Xavier.
06:50Figo again.
06:52Long range shot this time.
06:55Green flag international underway.
06:57England leading 1-0.
06:59England with a substitute on.
07:00Paul Merson on for the second half.
07:02Number 16.
07:03In place of David Beckham.
07:05Here's Teddy Sheringham.
07:09And Merson trying to get in on the action very quickly.
07:11But Bahia gets it away.
07:15Ince.
07:16To Batty.
07:21And now to Lesseau.
07:25Scholes.
07:28Hints.
07:29When it comes to Sheringham.
07:30A great chance here.
07:31And Sheringham's taken it.
07:37Well, the goal's been hard for him to come by.
07:40He hasn't scored since February.
07:42But now he's got that old feeling back again.
07:45It was a deflection that really, uh, really, uh, really, uh.
07:47Went favourably for him it seemed.
07:49Ron?
07:50Yes, I think that might be a change a lot for him.
07:52Ball inches through.
07:53Ball was running well wide of him.
07:55He flexed into his path.
07:56Takes it very, very, coolly.
07:59Just a bit wondering about whether the keeper's gone missing all of a sudden.
08:03The full marks to Sheringham.
08:05I think the keeper might have stood up a little bit more.
08:09There it is in the back of the net.
08:10And England 2-0 up.
08:13Starting the second half just as they started the first.
08:24I mean, this is a superb ball again by Lusso.
08:28Acres of space for Sheringham.
08:30Powerful header.
08:31Just not got the direction on it.
08:33But it looks very much to me as if the England manager said to Lusso.
08:36You get forward and see if he can make Figo defend a bit more.
08:43Sosa.
08:46Pinto.
08:48And running here.
08:50David Batty.
08:51Excellent.
08:51And he's played it now for Shearer.
08:53And Shearer's looking to finish it off.
08:55Oh, what a superb goal.
09:03Absolute excellence run.
09:04Some great passing on the left-hand side.
09:07Super third-man run from Batty.
09:09Just gets a little toe over the defender.
09:11And Shearer does what he does so well.
09:13Doesn't hesitate.
09:14It's good.
09:16Well, if there's any doubt that Alan Shearer's back in the most formidable business.
09:21That shot there alone tells you everything.
09:24But Batty's work in it was absolutely brilliant.
09:26That flick there.
09:27After a lovely well-timed run.
09:29But the volley was perfection itself.
09:32It was good.
09:32The setting up play on the left.
09:33Between I think it was Lusso and Scholes.
09:37Great run to relieve the pressure when he runs out from the midfield.
09:41Batty.
09:41And you won't get a better finish than that.
09:47Has played his part.
09:48Not least for this goal.
09:50Right at the start of the second half.
09:53But Teddy Shearingham goes now.
09:55And young Michael Owen, 18 years old from Liverpool comes on.
10:01And I think this fella's got to be a must, you know, for France.
10:05He's a surprise packer, isn't he?
10:08And he's got that lovely pace.
10:12And if he's good enough, he's old enough.
10:14Oh, he's great.
10:15He is good enough.
10:17Don't worry about that.
10:19There he is, his first contribution.
10:21And here he goes.
10:22He's pulled back there though by Beto.
10:24And here's Michael Owen.
10:25My goodness, into the side netting.
10:27What an introduction.
10:29And I tell you what, he was virtually held from the minute he beat.
10:33Was he Beto?
10:35Smiles on the England bench there.
10:36They know just what he can do.
10:38Fights for it back.
10:39Gets it back.
10:39And Beto was pulling him back and pulling him back.
10:42But he still got his shot in just wide.
10:46Michael Owen.
10:54Tried to get Skulls in there.
10:56Owen trying to make something of it.
10:57In the end it's Collada who brings it away for Portugal.
11:01Now Barbosa.
11:05Here's Barbosa.
11:08And his possibilities here.
11:10And Oceana with the shot.
11:12Saved the game by Seaman.
11:16I think he'll have enjoyed the game, David Seaman.
11:18Because he's had plenty to do, hasn't he?
11:21You know, he hasn't had anything that you wouldn't expect him to deal with.
11:24I mean, this is a nice effort from Oceana.
11:26The goalkeeper will have liked getting hold of that.
11:28Not as if he's been stood around all much.
11:38It's getting interesting seeing how people sum this game up.
11:40I mean, 3-0 looks very convincing.
11:43But there are moments when England have looked.
11:44And periods of play where they've looked second best to Portugal.
11:49Here's Figo.
11:51But you can't argue with 3-0.
11:54Oceana.
11:58And Ince gets it away.
12:00Good play.
12:01Good strong play.
12:02Shearer now.
12:03I know it.
12:03He's onside.
12:05But hold on.
12:06The referee's shown a red card.
12:08While that's been going on.
12:14I fancy it might be Carpuccio.
12:16No.
12:18But he's definitely shown a red card.
12:28And he's going off the field.
12:31Indeed it is.
12:33It's Nino Carpuccio.
12:34The substitute.
12:36But the referee still saw something there.
12:38While we were all watching Michael Owen.
12:40Oh!
12:41Well that's certainly another one.
12:44That's a yellow card.
12:45And you're lucky to get away with that.
12:48Merson is down.
12:50Well that's stupid isn't it?
12:51And that is absolutely idiotic.
12:54I mean the most disappointing aspect of the whole thing was with the sending off.
12:58Michael Owen had just got himself free of the offside trap.
13:01And no way in the world would anybody have caught him.
13:06And England making another substitution.
13:07Philip's now coming.
13:08Philip Neville's coming on for his brother Gary.
13:12But the actual sending off of Carpuccio must be for something that happens here.
13:23Well?
13:23Well that doesn't reveal anything Brian.
13:25No it doesn't.
13:26There's no protest from the player at all.
13:30Oh!
13:34Trying to play.
13:35Owen in.
13:40What an incredible five minutes this young man has had since he came on.
13:43Well that's the space that's been vulnerable all night.
13:46Between the left sided defender and the left centre back.
13:48And he's exploited it very well.
13:50Good through ball from Batte.
13:52He looks at it.
13:53He does a cunning, cunning little chip.
13:54Doesn't quite make it.
14:02Batte battling with Oceano.
14:05Campbell getting it across the field there.
14:07To Philip Neville.
14:08On for Gary.
14:12Ince.
14:13Pit long.
14:15And away goes Shearer.
14:16And away goes Shearer.
14:17He's battling for it.
14:18And he's brought down.
14:20Outside the box.
14:21Yes.
14:23Yeah I think Beto Michael.
14:28Mercy's free kick.
14:30Adams.
14:31Oh!
14:33Flag is up is it?
14:35Disallowed.
14:36Leaning on.
14:37Leaning on.
14:38I think that's a bit of a harsh decision.
14:40He's definitely put himself above the player here.
14:43But to be fair I think it's Cadet he gets above here.
14:47But I mean he's out and out jumped everybody.
14:50Oh yeah.
14:52This goal's doing well.
14:54Don't worry they won't phase him.
14:56They won't intimidate him.
15:00Gets it back to Batte and they certainly won't intimidate him.
15:04Spread wide to Philip Neville.
15:05Bit of space here now.
15:07Three minutes of the game left.
15:09England leading 3-0.
15:10One goal disallowed from Tony Adams.
15:15Which has been a lovely way to have marked his 50th England cap.
15:19Oh he'll be disappointed won't he?
15:21Because he'll have felt he's done nothing wrong.
15:22And probably hasn't.
15:24I mean he's towered and climbed all over.
15:25He said climbed all over people.
15:27Legitimately Michael.
15:29Scholes.
15:31I think the referees may be given a sympathy vote there.
15:34England doing well.
15:36Scholes finding Lesseau.
15:40But also some good defending.
15:41Shearer was in there.
15:42Shearer was in there looking for his hat-trick.
15:46Merson was in there too.
15:47And you can be sure that Owen was in there too.
15:49Well that was the disallowed goal.
15:51See there's no way when you jump with people like that.
15:53You're not going to make physical contact.
15:55All he says is if you keep your elbows down.
15:56Which I think he's done though.
15:59Batty.
16:00Will it come to Ince?
16:03Played by him for Scholes.
16:04And now for Owen.
16:06And now for Ince again.
16:08Driven by him.
16:09And save.
16:11And a penalty.
16:12Oh surely referee.
16:14Not given.
16:17Owen was through there.
16:18Surely pulled down by Bahia.
16:21But not given.
16:23But I tell you what.
16:24You saw his predator's instincts there didn't you?
16:27Races him.
16:28As soon as there was a parry coming.
16:29Ince with the shot.
16:31But.
16:32Not the best of the night.
16:34That will either be the best decision the referee has ever made.
16:37Or it could be a right vulnerable one.
16:39Oh.
16:39Are you sure?
16:42He's absolutely savaged him with his trail in leg.
16:44There you look.
16:46Owen in like Flint.
16:47Oh.
16:51So.
16:52Campbell gets it back.
16:53You thought it should have been a pen.
16:55Oh.
16:56Not even an argument.
16:58I mean the problem he's got the referee.
16:59He'd have to send the goalkeeper off.
17:01Wouldn't he?
17:02True.
17:03Last minute of the game now Ron.
17:05Summing it up.
17:06Very comprehensive from England.
17:08I think maybe they've ridden the luck.
17:10But they maybe have deserved it a little bit.
17:14We've looked quite a cohesive side.
17:17Certainly we've looked as if we can plan the counter attack.
17:19The only thing I would say is I think they've passed the ball about Portugal.
17:22I think they're very flimsy at the back Portugal.
17:24They've left acres of space.
17:26For four Serenity.
17:27We're just going in one now.
17:28Unfortunately he's gone early.
17:30So I don't think it's been.
17:31I think the scoreline might be a bit flattering to them.
17:33In terms of what they've had to play against there.
17:35But in midfield and up front.
17:37You know in competing heat.
17:39Portugal have had some good midfield.
17:40And some good front players.
17:41And in the context of the World Cup.
17:44A big step forward for England tonight.
17:46Oh yeah.
17:46Confidence wise.
17:47Result wise.
17:49You know every.
17:49The same as everybody said when we didn't do particularly well against Chile and whatever.
17:53Now.
17:54Presumably everybody will have us winning the World Cup.
17:56I think it's been a very good exercise.
18:00It's victory for England.
18:02By three goals to nil.
18:04Alan Shearer with two of them.
18:05Having got the game off to a wonderful start with that goal in the first five minutes.
18:09Tennis Shearer adding a second one.
18:11Right at the start of the second half.
18:13And Shearer himself.
18:14With an absolutely magnificent volley.
18:16Making it three nil.
18:17Tony Adams having one disallowed.
18:20So as Ron Atkinson said.
18:22Plenty of plus marks.
18:23As England now march one step closer towards those World Cup finals in France.
18:28England three.
18:29Portugal.
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