Roonaldo Makes History as England Secures Crucial Win

The second game of the qualification stage in Group B between England and Switzerland in Coimbra was decided by a young man who's just about old enough to celebrate his two goals with a cold beer. Eighteen year-old Wayne Rooney scored two goals as England beat 10-man Switzerland 3-0 to revive their Euro 2004 aspirations. England's third came from midfielder Steven Gerrard.

The England team, the subject of such intense media criticism after the France debacle on Sunday, stood for the national anthem arm in arm in a show of solidarity ahead of the crucial match against the Swiss. Determined stares and lung-busting renditions of "God Save the Queen" belied any doubts that may have been hiding regarding an early exit for the English as both sides prepared to do battle for their Euro 2004 survival.

The Swiss started the game with more imagination and energy as England appeared uncomfortable at the pace set by their opponents. Hakan Yakin saw a lot of the ball in the opening few minutes as the Swiss pressured John Terry in his first appearance in a major international tournament. The Chelsea defender, just back from a thigh injury, looked a yard to slow when he gave a way the first free kick on 3 minutes. The chance came to nothing and the England center-half was visibly relieved.

England began to find their stride in the heat and mounted their first attack just two minutes after the Swiss had given them an early scare. A long Beckham pass almost found Michael Owen, but Swiss keeper Stiel was alert to the danger and raced out to claim the ball before the England forward could control it.

Ashley Cole then made a surging run towards the Swiss area, but lost possession and put his retreating team mates under the cosh once more. England were attempting to gain midfield advantage but were finding that the Swiss attack were increasingly faster to the ball as the screw began to turn.

Hakan causes mayhem

Again, Hakan Yakin found himself in a good position with a dead ball situation but the free kick, lofted into a frantic and chaotic England area, was dealt with by Steven Gerrard who headed just over his own bar. Far from looking accomplished against supposedly average opposition, England were labouring against the waves of Swiss forwards and looked to be overwhelmed.

The frustration seemed to be creeping into the English players as first Rooney and then Cole made a number of rash challenges, the teenager receiving the yellow card for his challenge on keeper Stiel.

Rooney creates a record

However, five minutes later and the England striker had made up for his petulance. David Beckham found Michael Owen in the Swiss area who turned to whip a vicious cross behind the Swiss defense. Wayne Rooney out-jumped his opponent and headed home, making the 18-year-old the youngest-ever European Championship scorer.

The 23rd minute goal failed to settle England for a short period during which another Hasan Yakin dead ball caused confusion in the England defence, leaving David James to smother the danger. At the other end, Frank Lampard released a long pass to David Beckham who again set up Rooney but this time his 25-yard effort was comfortably held by Stiel.

England began to reduce the pace of game in the heat of Coimbra and the remainder of the half was played out with England pinging crisp passes around the midfield without any real penetration into the final third of the pitch. The lack of urgency caused the England fans to whistle their distaste, knowing how slender a 1-0 lead can be at this level.

As if to punctuate the point, Hakan Yakin lined up a free kick in much the same position as Zinedine Zidane scored from on Sunday against the same opposition in the last action of the first half. Luckily for England, this shot went well wide.

Swiss striking options offer hope

The Swiss changed their attacking options at half-time with Stephane Chapuisat making way for Daniel Gygax. He was soon in the thick of things and nearly beat an indecisive David James with his first headed touch.

The second half was barely five minutes old when Bernt Haas received the yellow card for a two-footed challenge on Steven Gerrard. Within ten minutes, Haan was taking a long walk to an early bath after upending Ashley Cole. Down to ten men, Switzerland looked like a team waiting to be over-run.

England began to step up the pace when first Sol Campbell and then Wayne Rooney tested Jörg Stiel. Campbell powered into the area to head down Beckham's free kick but no team mate was there to finish the move. Rooney once again showed his strength by latching onto a pin-point Beckham cross in the Swiss six-yard box but just failed to make a proper connection.

Comedy goal gives England breathing space

Campbell again beat his marker on 70 minutes and planted another powerful header a couple of feet wide of the Swiss goal from another Beckham cross. Not soon after, substitute Owen Hargreaves, on for Paul Scholes, found fellow newcomer Darius Vassel with a long ball on the edge of the Swiss area. Waiting for his moment, Vassel laid a perfect ball into the path of Rooney whose shot hit the post and then keeper Stiel before ending up in the net to make it 2-0.

With eight minutes to go, Gary Neville's short cross across the Swiss six-yard box found the unmarked Steven Gerrard racing into the area. The Liverpool midfielder rifled a high shot over Stiel to give England a 3-0 unassailable lead.

That became a victory as the final whistle blew and England's campaign was finally under way with its first success. The win belonged to England as a whole but the plaudits will undoubtedly go to the teenager who orchestrated his country's revival.

England: James, Neville, Terry, Campbell, Cole; Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes, Rooney, Owen.

Switzerland: Stiel, Haas, Mueller, M Yakin, Spycher, Wicky, Celestini, Huggel, H Yakin, Chapuisat, Frei.

Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)