World Cup 2014 Qualifier: England V Moldova Preview

With all focus on the domestic season, the beginning of the qualifying campaign for the World Cup in two years begins this weekend. After falling to Italy in the quarter finals at Euro 2012, England beat the Italians 2-1 in a recent friendly. Their opponents this Friday come in the shape of Moldova who last played England back in 1996 where they were comfortably beaten 4-0 at Wembley.

England boss Roy Hodgson named his squad for the qualifiers last week and has included a number of players who weren't involved in the Euros. Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has been included in the squad having revealed in January he didn't want to be considered for international selection. He has been joined by Sunderland winger Adam Johnson and Daniel Sturridge who were overlooked in the summer.

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With Andy Carroll and Wayne Rooney both out through injury, Hodgson has only three strikers in his squad having made the decision not to replace Carroll, who had to pull out due to an injury sustained for West Ham at the weekend. Alongside Sturridge, the former West Brom boss has Danny Welbeck and Jermain Defoe as other options upfront. At the back John Terry has been included having missed their recent game against Newcastle with a neck injury. In goal, Joe Hart is backed up by John Ruddy and Jack Butland with QPR keeper Rob Green overlooked.  Left back Ashley Cole was set to make his 100th international appearance against Ukraine next week but has pulled out due to an ankle injury, meaning Everton defender Leighton Baines looking set to take his place in the team.

Opponents Moldova are ranked 137 in the world and should be relatively easy for England. As mentioned above, England's last game against Moldova came back in 1997 when they comfortably came out 4-0 winners. That day Glen Hoddle's men included legendary keeper David Seaman, David Beckham and Stan Collymore. Goals that day came from Paul Scholes, Paul Gascoigne and a double from Ian Wright. The game was  a World Cup qualifier as they aimed for a place at France '98

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Moldova finished second bottom in their Euro 2012 qualifying group with nine points having recorded wins against Finland and twice against San Marino. The majority of their squad play their trade in Moldova and are managed by Ion Caras. Captain Alexandru Epureanu is currently the most capped player in the squad at the moment having played 43 times for his country.

England's group for the World Cup contains five other teams including Ukraine and Montenegro who England previously faced in their Euro 2012 qualifying group. Alongside them are Poland and San Marino who should be easier opponents for England. The fixtures will be played over the next year and will also include friendlies against Sweden and Scotland.

Roy Hodgson's men will play their first game in the Zimbru Stadium in Moldova on Friday evening and will follow their first game with a home fixture against Ukraine five days later.

Euro 2012 result: England 1-0 Ukraine

England progressed through to the quarter finals of Euro 2012 last night, beating tournament hosts Ukraine 1-0, thanks to a Wayne Rooney header early in the second half.

The win ensured England finished the group as winners and will face Italy in their quarter final on Sunday. Roy Hodgson's men win meant they finished ahead of France after they were beaten by Sweden in their final group game.

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The game was marred by controversy though as Ukraine were denied a certain goal when striker Marko Devic's shot looked to have crossed the line before John Terry managed to hack the ball clear.

It was Ukraine that started the better of the sides pinning England in their own half for much of the first period. The first opportunity of the games fell the host's way with Denys Garmash firing a long range effort over the crossbar. The chances didn't stop their for Ukraine as Devic's strike was excellently blocked by Scott Parker.

Devic was involved in much of Ukraine's attacks and was involved in setting up the impressive Andriy Yarmolenko whose shot was comfortably dealt with by Joe Hart.

The inclusion of Wayne Rooney was the only change made by Roy Hodgson, and the Manchester United striker struggled to get into the early stages of the game with poor touches and loose passes. 

England's best chance of the half fell to the striker, glancing a header wide from an Ashley Young cross when really Rooney should have done much better.

Ukraine continued their dominance of the half when Oleh Gusev took advantage of Ashley Young's misjudgement of a cross field pass, before shooting narrowly over Joe Hart's bar.

Despite being under pressure for the majority of the first half, it was England and Rooney that took advantage of some sloppy Ukrainian defending to take the lead. After seeing his corner cleared, captain Steven Gerrard received the ball wide from Glen Johnson. The Liverpool captain skipped past one challenge and after seeing the cross deflected twice, Wayne Rooney lurked at the back post to score quite possibly his easiest goal for England.

The goal struck life into both sets of players with Ukraine needing a win to have any chance of qualification. Breaking from a corner Gerrard played Rooney in on goal who could only hold the ball up and set up Milner whose poor shot was easily blocked by the Ukrainian defence.

The chances were coming thick and fast in the game with Artem Milevskiy heading over from a quickly taken corner when really he should have done a lot better. Joe Hart palmed a dangerous looking Gusev cross over the bar before the games controversial talking point took place.

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A long punt forward by the Ukraine defence fell nicely for the offside looking Milevskiy who played in the on rushing Marko Devic. The strikers shot was half saved by Joe Hart's foot who could only watch as John Terry heroically volleyed the ball clear from beneath the bar. To the naked eye the ball didn't look over but TV replays clearly showed the ball was over the line. Despite an assistant referee and an additional assistant, the goal was not given, giving more reason for the introduction of goal line technology.

With the whole of Ukraine aggrieved with the decsion, Scott Parker broke forward only to be brought down on the edge of the box. The resulting free kick though was narrowly stuck wide by Rooney.

Joe Hart was once again showed why he is so vital to England, as he magnificently palmed away a swerving 30 yard effort from Konoplienka with Joleon Lescott on hand to clear away the loose ball.

Changes were made by both teams with Hodgson introducing Walcott, Oxlade- Chamberlain and Andy Carroll with Ukraine's talisman Andriy Shevchenko brought on for his final international appearance. Despite the ex-Chelsea's heroics in the country's opening group game against Sweden, he couldn't inspire a comeback this time.

Chances were exchanged late on with Ashley Cole nearly doubling England's lead late on after his shot was excellently palmed away by the Ukrainian goalkeeper. Yarmolenko shot wide for Ukraine when well placed outside the box.

England's solid defensive unit saw the game through and will now face Italy in their quarter final on Sunday in Kiev. With France losing to Sweden in the other group game, England avoid Spain and from no expectation at the beginning of the tournament, England fans are starting to believe.

Teams:
England: Hart, G.Johnson, Terry, Lescott, A.Cole, Gerrard, Parker, Milner (Walcott 69') Young, Rooney (Oxlade Chamberlain 87'), Welbeck (Carroll 82')

Ukraine: Pyatov, Selin, Khacheridi, Rakitskiy, Tymoshchuk, Garmash (Nazarenko 78') Gusev, Yarmolenko, Konoplienka, Milevskiy (Butko 77'), Devic (Shevchenko 70')


Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)