England handed wake-up call

Pearce's youngsters soundly beaten on return to the City Ground

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 31st March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

England handed wake-up call

Obertan: Rising star

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England Under 21s were handed a sharp wake-up call in their preparations for this summer's European Championship following a 2-0 friendly defeat to France at the City Ground.

Three Lions boss Stuart Pearce, who spent 12 years as a Nottingham Forest player on the banks of the River Trent, was hoping to use the match as a positive warm-up for June's finals in Sweden.

But his mediocre team were swept aside as well-taken, first-half goals from Bordeaux striker Gabriel Obertan, currently on loan at Lorient, and Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko went unanswered.

Pearce made five changes to the side which thumped Norway 5-0 on Friday as Martin Cranie, Michael Mancienne, James Milner, Mark Noble and Matt Derbyshire all earned starts.

France included three England-based players in their young starting line-up as Tottenham's Dorian Dervite, on loan at Southend, Arsenal's Armand Traore, on loan at Portsmouth, and Liverpool's David Ngog featured.

And it was the visitors who started as the much brighter side, despite lacking experience when compared to their hosts, as England goalkeeper Joe Hart was twice forced to make stops from Ngog and Obertan.

Unimpressive

But on 26 minutes the Manchester City shot-stopper was beaten as Obertan fired low and hard from the edge of the box to give Erick Mombaerts' men a deserved lead after the ball had fallen kindly off Nedum Onuoha.

And nine minutes later France doubled their lead as England centre-back David Wheater gave away possession to allow Sissoko a clear run on goal before the 19-year-old, who has been linked with Newcastle, superbly chipped Hart.

Pearce was clearly unimpressed with his defenders and hauled off Wheater at the interval, replacing the Middlesbrough player with Bolton's Fabrice Muamba.

The change, though, made little impact as England's rearguard continued to struggle with the movement of France, and Onuoha was fortunate not to net at the wrong end via a deflection after a Younousse Sankhare shot.

Shortly before the hour-mark Tom Huddlestone went close with England's best chance as he headed narrowly wide at a free-kick, but France immediately responded as Ngog blasted just over the crossbar.

France - who lost to Germany in the play-offs for the finals - continued to dominate with lightning breaks, and Hart was forced to save low at his near post from Traore.

A late scuffle between England substitute Fraizer Campbell and Sankhare marred the closing stages, as the latter appeared to play act, but France comfortably earned the win.

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