Courtesy: The FA.com


Lions lose out

By Ellie Blok in Tbilisi

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Georgia 4-3 England
Tuesday 27 November 2007
Tbilisi Sportspalace, Georgia

England's young Lions left the Tbilisi Sportspalace tonight kicking themselves after dominating Georgia yet coming out at the wrong end of a 4-3 result in the first of two fixtures against their hosts.

Graeme Dell's re-shaped team, missing many of the squad who performed so well against Andorra last month, went behind after just three minutes and conceeded again four minutes later.

Having taken time to grasp the importance of ball retention in this fast flowing start to the game, England soon managed to reverse the trend and heap some pressure on their hosts.

Two magnificently worked replies followed from Steve Harrison and Luke Ballinger to level the scores but despite England's relentless pressure, Georgia were gifted a third goal before the break.

A time-out was called by Dell with six minutes left on the clock and five fouls against Georgia resulted in England forcing the vital sixth foul for a ten-metre penalty, which Ballinger blasted straight at the 'keeper.

England, fielding four newly capped players, came out a rejuvenated team where resilience was obviously the key to their teaching and with temperatures at near freezing inside the arena, Eric Pudaloff's rapid distribution from goal allowed England to play at a pace which the visitors struggled to cope with.

However, when a questionable free-kick, much against the balance of play, was deflected into Pudaloff's goal that allowing the hosts some breathing space and was a further setback to England.

England's desire to move the ball around and make Goergia uncomfotable in possession soon paid dividends, as once more the sixth foul was awarded in their favour. This time Ballinger made amends from ten metres, but it came too late to deliver Dell and his players a deserved, yet elusive win.

"Yet again we've come close but inexperience within the group went against us in being able to control the game when it mattered," said Dell, looking towards World Cup qualification next February.

"There were a number of new lads out there tonight and it's an inhospitable place to come to, win a cap and impress but they all did that."

England will undoubtedly be favoured now in tomorrow night's second game which Dell hopes will see better fortunes for his players.

"It's important that the players learn from tonight's game, they are a bright group and I know that they will and that will require implementing our tactical plan with more decisiveness at the start of the game," he added.

"All round I'm pleased, but nonetheless frustrated now that we are getting closer and making noticeable progress."





Courtesy: The FA.com


Lions capitulate

By Ellie Blok in Tbilisi

Thursday, 29 November 2007


Georgia 7-3 England
Wednesday 28 November 2007
Tbilisi Sportspalace, Georgia

England's hopes of a win in their second game at the Sportpalace Arena in Georgia were shattered in a mad five minutes of the second half, when the young Lions conceded five goals in as many minutes.

After a solid first half performance in which well worked moves resulted in two finely taken strikes from Luke Ballinger (pictured below), England went in at the break in dominant form and leading 2-1.

However, with the second half starting brightly with much more of the same, England looked in control but failed to take further advantage.

Firstly, capitulation in possession allowed Georgia to counter attack and draw level to knock the wind out of England's sails.

Graeme Dell’s young team struggled to eradicate their disappointment as England lost their defensive shape whilst chasing the elusive victory and their hosts capitalised on their re-found impetus to stretch their lead almost instantaneously to 6-2.

From there, England struggled to get back into the game and despite a late reply from Ballinger for his third in the final minute, it was too late for any comeback.

Georgia then added another to their tally, to make it 7-3, a scoreline which harshly reflected the cruelty of this game and left England bewildered as to how they could have dominated play for so long, yet lost by such a margin.

“We applied ourselves magnificently in the first half and the players had learned a great deal from yesterday, but at that point only half the job was done,” admitted Dell after the game.

“This game is cruel and scorelines rarely reflect the balance of play and whilst I can hunt for excuses, it's not the way I work.

“The reality is that on the night, we simply weren't experienced enough to hold our lead and the players are bitterly disappointed, but they must bounce back and be richer for the lesson that our hosts gave us in the second half.”

England will now be preparing to play two games against Greece in Birmingham in December.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com