International friendly review

Welbeck goal beats Belgium

Man United striker scores only goal

ESPN staff

Danny Welbeck chips home England's winning goal© AP Images


Danny Welbeck scored his first England goal to earn a 1-0 victory in their final Euro 2012 warm-up match against Belgium at Wembley.


Welbeck netted the only goal after 37 minutes - a delightful left-footed dink over Simon Mignolet after being set free by Manchester United team-mate Ashley Young - to press his claims for a place in the starting line-up in the tournament opener against France on June 11.


But defender Gary Cahill gave England another fitness concern and was having a precautionary x-ray on his jaw after being substituted during the first half after the Chelsea defender was deliberately barged into goalkeeper Joe Hart by Dries Mertens.


Largely though, Belgium dominated, with Guillaume Gillet firing a long-range effort against the outside of a post and Marouane Fellaini also coming close.


Imminent Chelsea new boy Eden Hazard sparkled at times without finding a breakthrough and it seems Hodgson's England will settle on a policy of being difficult to beat when they depart for their Krakow base on Wednesday.


An inexperienced Northern Ireland side were outclassed as Netherlands completed their preparations with a 6-0 romp at a the Amsterdam ArenA.


The visitors were prisoners in their own half from start to finish as a full-strength Oranje raced into a 4-0 half-time lead, with Arsenal's Robin van Persie (two), Wesley Sneijder and Ibrahim Afellay all on target. Afellay made it five in the 51st minute before defender Ron Vlaar completed the scoring.


Denmark beat Australia 2-0 in Copenhagen. Captain Daniel Agger slotted home a 32nd minute penalty and substitute Andreas Bjelland struck from close range in the 68th minute for the home side.


Poland wrapped up a regulation 4-0 win against Andorra. Ludovic Obraniak, Robert Lewandowski and a Jakub Blaszczykowski penalty put the Poles in command before half-time, and Marcin Wasilewski wrapped up the win with another spot-kick 13 minutes from time.


A last-gasp equaliser from Tarik Elyounoussi grabbed Norway a 1-1 draw with Euro 2012 participants Croatia in Oslo. Eduardo da Silva had given the Croats a lead just ten minutes from time, only for Elyounoussi to send the home fans into raptures at the last.


Two goals from Umut Bulut sent Turkey on their way to a 3-1 victory against Portugal, despite the hosts firing 27 shots at goal. 


Bulut opened the scoring in the first-half, before doubling his tally early after the break to send Turkey into a 2-0 lead. Nani quickly pulled a goal back for the Portuguese, but soon after, colleague Cristiano Ronaldo missed a chance to pull level from the penalty spot when Volkan Demirel got down well to save.


To take things from bad to worse for Portugal ahead of Euro 2012, the Turks rounded-off their win with a third goal in the final minutes, as Real Madrid defender Pepe could do little to prevent himself turning the ball into his own net. The result follows Portugal's disappointing 0-0 draw with Macedonia on Saturday.

© ESPN

To comment, you must be a registered user. Please Sign In or Register