Published: 6 March, 2014
by PAUL COWLING at Wembley Stadium

International Friendly
ENGLAND 1,  DENMARK 0

“I WISH you good luck in the World Cup. You will need it,” said the Danish national coach following England’s narrow but ultimately deserved victory at Wembley.

Morten Olsen’s honest verdict was met by raucous laugher from the British press.

A tough group stage that includes Italy and a Uruguary side led by Luis Suarez awaits the Three Lions in Brazil, but for now at least England have got their preparations off to a positive start with their first victory in three internationals.

An 82nd-minute header from Daniel Sturridge dispelled a little of the autumn gloom after those back-to-back defeats against Chile and Germany.

“The win (against Denmark) was a positive and the crowd too,” said Roy Hodgson, not giving too much away, at first.

But when asked about Olsen’s comments, Hodgson was more prickly.

“I am tired of hearing negatives,” he said. “It doesn’t interest me, and I don’t really care. We didn’t need luck tonight.”

To be fair, only some resolute goalkeeping from Kasper Schmeichel prevented England from recording a more resounding victory to match their dominant possession and 19 efforts on goal.

Schmeichel had already denied Sturridge twice: at the end of a quiet first half, and then again in a far better second period as England, and Sturridge in particular, stepped up the pace.

On 75 minutes, Sturridge delivered a goal-bound shot that Schmeichel was equal to. The Leicester City goalkeeper might be playing in the Championship, but he showed his international calibre again when he twice denied Danny Welbeck.

“We didn’t do enough in the first half, but we put that right in the second half. It wasn’t going to be an easy game,” admitted Hodgson.

In truth, Denmark were woeful, yet could have won the game themselves. But it would have been undeserved.

With Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen missing through injury, more was expected of Niklas Bendtner, but the Arsenal man flopped on the night and was replaced by Morten Rasmussen. 

Within a few minutes, Rasmussen had a clear sight of goal, but the under-employed Joe Hart spread himself well to thwart the danger.

Hodgson said he was relieved that Jack Wilshere hadn't suffered a 13th-minute injury after going for a 50-50 ball with Daniel Agger.

The Arsenal man was eventually replaced by Adam Lallana on the hour mark, but Hodgson said that giving Wilshere a breather was part of the plan.

“It was always my plan. Arsenal have a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday, for which Wilshere should be fit, and then there’s the match in Munich (Champions League).

“But I was concerned when he went down. He got a kick on his foot, but it’s only a bruise.”

Lallana was one of the real plus points of the night, and it was his assist that helped Sturridge grab the winner. Lallana’s pinpoint cross was met by the in-form Liverpool man, who sent a powerful header into the far left-hand corner of the net.  

The closing minutes were played out with little threat to Joe Hart’s goal and England had their win. 

England: Hart; Johnson, Smalling. Cahill, Cole (Shaw), Henderson (Oxlade-Chamberlain), Gerrard, Wilshere (Lallana), Rooney (Welbeck), Sturridge (Milner), Sterling (Townsend)

Attendance: 68,573