England v Italy

The two teams came on to the pitch as their fans cheered them on.  The whistle blew and they were under way.

Italy’s Danielle de Rossi hit the post in the opening 5 minutes from thirty yards. Gianluigi Buffon denied Glen Johnson from a curler inside the six yard box, then Rooney headed the ball over the bar. It should have been a goal. Ballotelli missed a great chance but was played onside by Terry, fortunately for England Terry got back to block the shot!

It was a superb ball over the England defence from Montivillo, then Ballotelli attempted a scissor kick but it went straight into the palms of Joe Hart. There was an easy chance for Ballotelli from an Andreas Pirlo cross. Ballotelli missed from four yards! And then the whistle blew for half time.

Second half

Joe Hart then punched Pirlo’s corner but it fell for Montivillo, he crossed the ball back in to the six yard box, De Rossie’s left foot volley floated wide. A cross from Walcott went too high for Andy Carroll’s reach but it fell for Ashley Young who struck the ball into the Italian defenders leg, which prevented a corner. Montivillo made a fantastic pass to Nocerino, luckily for England Glen Johnson got back to make a magnificent block. Full time, extra time begun.

Extra time

Diamanti hit the post, a missed opportunity for Italy. Ballzerreti fizzed the ball into the box and found Diamanti who couldn’t direct his shot on target. Diamanti crossed the ball into the box and found Nocerino and headed the ball in, but he was offside.

Penalties

There went the whistle for penalties. Ballotelli was up first, he was against his own Manchester City team mate Joe Hart, but still scored 1-O. Gerrard’s shot put it in the same corner 1-1. Italy missed, still 1-1. Rooney blasted his into the corner 2-1. Pirlo chipped the ball down the middle 2-2. Young smashed it against the bar 2-2. Nocerino scored with his stutter penalty 3-2. Ashley Cole stepped up, to miss the penalty. Italy need to score to win. Diamanti sent Hart the wrong way to send Italy to the semi finals!    

By Joe and Luke D

England v Ukraine

On Tuesday England played Ukraine at the Donbass arena. Early on Yarmolenko sprinted through the England midfield but he’d taken to many touches and could not get the shot away. What was the England midfield doing?

Later on in the game Ashley Young was on the break. He swung the ball in from the left and picked out an unmarked Rooney, a free header for him but he just put it wide, a great chance to put them ahead. A few minutes later Ukraine was on the attack, a brilliant move by Yarmolenko, he cut inside Ashley Cole and shot from the edge of the box - Joe Hart was down quickly and held it.

In the thirty second minute Gerrard crossed in a beautiful ball and found Terry. It was his chance to put England ahead, but again England couldn’t get a goal. Once again Yarmolenko was on the ball, he dribbled the ball past three England defenders and made Scott Parker dive in with his head, eventually England cleared it for a corner.

There went the half time whistle: Ukraine was  the better side.

Second half   

The second half was under way with no personal changes from either side. Gerrard crossed the ball in but it was cleared straight back to him. He fired it back into the six yard box and the keeper made a terrible mistake and Rooney took advantage and put it into the back of the net. It was an easy goal for Rooney.

Gerrard released Rooney through the centre and it was a foot race, but he couldn’t beat the defender and laid off Milner but his shot was blocked. Ukraine were on the attack, there was only the keeper to beat, the Ukraine striker took a shot and Hart tipped the ball over.  Later on Joe Hart and Terry had to make a goal line clearance. Actually it went over the line but it was disallowed.  Again, Konoplyanka fired a long range shot and Joe Hart had to make a superb save, how did he save it?

The final whistle went, that meant England were top of their group and they play Italy on Sunday. Come on England!      

England 1  Ukraine 0

By Joe and Cameron

England v Sweden

On Saturday England played Sweden at the Olympic Stadium. Early on, Sweden won a free-kick but the ball just went wide. Next, Steven Gerrard  laid off Scott Parker and he had a sweet enough strike, but a good save by Isaksson tipped it away and went for a corner.

24 minutes

Sweden got the ball in their own half, but didn’t clear well because Steven Gerrard easily intercepted it. Gerrard’s superb cross let  Andy Carroll leap up high and head the ball into the back of the net, he gave Isaksson no chance of a save.

Later in the match, Ibrahimovic’s shot was deflected into the arms of Joe Hart after Parker gave the ball away - sloppy play by England but the Swedish striker  couldn’t make them pay. The game was  quietened down after a chance came to Ashley Young after a superb pass from Ashley Cole on the wing, fortunately for the Swedish fans Young put it into the side netting. There went the whistle for half time. England led 1-0. Not the best of England ever, but they were still ahead.

Second half 

 Early on Sweden got a goal back from a header by Mellberg. Glen Johnson almost scrambled it out but actually he put it into his own net.  10 minutes later Mellberg got another goal from Larsson’s amazing cross from a free-kick - there was no way that England could win this.

However, Roy Hodgson, the England manager, made the right decision and took off Milner and put on Theo Walcott. As you would know, if you often watch him, Walcott was straight into action.  Just 6 minutes later he hit the ball from 25 yards out and it flew into the top of the net. There was too much swerve on the ball, it sent the keeper the wrong way.

Joe Hart punched the ball away from a Swedish corner and England were on the counter attack. In a flash Theo Walcott ran through the middle of two Swedish players, passed the ball to Welbeck and with his back turned to goal he did a fantastic back heel and won it for England.

Final score 3-2 to England.

A fantastic game for England.  The first time we’ve beaten Sweden in a competitive tournament.       

By Joe and Cameron