Welbeck double sees England pass toughest test

ESPN staff

September 8, 2014

Danny Welbeck gave England the lead in Basel before adding another late on © Getty Images

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England shook off World Cup disappointment with the perfect start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign as Roy Hodgson's side beat Switzerland 2-0 in Basel.

Danny Welbeck's second half double secured all three points at St Jakob-Park as England passed what will be arguably their toughest test on the journey to France.

Delph was given an early verbal by referee Cuneyt Cakir following a late lunge on Valon Behrami before the Aston Villa midfielder was yellow-carded just nine minutes into his full England debut for another risky challenge.

Quick thinking from Joe Hart released Raheem Sterling down the left, whose cut-back for Jack Wilshere was beautifully played into the path of Wayne Rooney by the Arsenal man; how the captain would have wished for a better first touch.

Match Analysis

• Man of the Match: Tireless effort from several of England's stars on what could have been a difficult, if not embarrassing, night in Basel. Wayne Rooney was superb, but the award goes to Raheem Sterling, who provided a constant outlet on the left side of the diamond.
• Villain: Liverpool target Xherdan Shaqiri. A few bright moments, but went missing when it mattered most.
• Key Moment: Not one, but two. The England move finished off by Danny Welbeck for his first was lovely and a welcome positive from Hodgson's decision to adopt a diamond midfield. Equally as brilliant, at the other end, was Gary Cahill's sliding block from Drmic to keep England ahead. Goals win games, but then so do clean sheets.
• Rob Bartlett

Rooney then scuffed an effort straight at Yann Sommer after a bobbling through-ball from Sterling, before a penalty appeal for the home side was rightly turned down when Phil Jones clashed with Haris Seferovic.

Welbeck's pace was a continuous danger on the flank; the Arsenal striker spun and flew down the right, only to place his low cross directly between the onrushing Sterling and Rooney. It was a chance wasted and one England should have put to bed.

Seferovic was then equally as wasteful at the other end - after a mistake from Jones, Xherdan Shaqiri played in his team-mate, who saw his weak left-footed effort denied by the outstretched right leg of Hart. Rooney went close with a snapshot at the other end and, from his resulting corner, Sommer got down brilliantly to palm away Gary Cahill's header and keep the scores level at the break.

Jack Wilshere dragged a deflected effort wide in the opening seconds of the second half, before Stephan Lichtsteiner skied a good chance for the Swiss from close range. Jordan Henderson broke down the right and when he crossed for Sterling, the attacker completely miscued his shot before his marker almost diverted the ball into his own net.

Seferovic stung the palms of Hart following good work from Shaqiri but it was England who finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Rooney raced clear and clipped the ball forward for Sterling, whose low cross was coolly converted at the far post by Welbeck.

Swiss substitute Josip Drmic was brilliantly denied by Cahill 10 minutes later; after seemingly beating the offside trap, Drmic skipped around Hart only to see his effort blocked by the sliding Chelsea defender.

James Milner replaced Wilshere to earn his 50th England cap before Phil Jagielka came on for Jones, who appeared to injure a hamstring midway through the second period. Despite late pressure - and a missed Sterling rasper at the other end - resolute defending kept England in it before Welbeck added a late second with another calm finish in added time.