Owen "Uncomfortable" In England Win

Last updated : 04 June 2006 By Footy Mad - Editor

ENGLAND 6 JAMAICA 0

England: Robinson (James 45), Ashley Cole (Bridge 35), Ferdinand, Terry (Campbell 33), Carragher, Joe Cole, Lampard (Carrick 68), Gerrard (Downing 77), Beckham (Lennon 68), Crouch, Owen.

Subs Not Used: Hargreaves, Jenas, Carson, Walcott.

He looks as much like a footballer as my arse ... but Peter Crouch proved many of us wrong that he CAN be an England goal machine as well as the bloke who makes the Geordie Dancer look good!

Crouch is apparently a new cult hero for England fans, who greeted his goals and his robot-dance celebration with huge cheers. Although his penalty miss will probably earn the Jolly Green Giant of the England team a pizza advert. My God was it bad!

England limbered up for Germany with a Caribbean cruise and marked Sven-Goran Eriksson's last home with his best result. It was England's largest win since a 6-0 thrashing of Luxembourg in 1999 and sent the squad to Germany on the crest of a wave.

John Terry and Ashley Cole both limped off with injuries but Owen made it through 90 minutes for the first time since he broke his foot.

Lampard started the rout in the 11th minute and the goal emphasised the Crouch effect. Paul Robinson launched a long free-kick towards the big Liverpool striker, who flicked it on. Owen hooked it into the goalmouth and Lampard, arriving in trademark style, guided a half-volley into the net for his 11th England goal.

Five minutes later, the lead was two and again it was England's aerial threat which troubled the Jamaicans. Beckham swung a free-kick in from England's left wing, where Joe Cole had been upended, and Taylor headed it past his own keeper.

There was a hint of own-goal about the third as well. Crouch stuck out a long leg and turned a Beckham corner towards goal with the outside of his right foot. Omar Daley had the final touch on the line as he tried in vain to clear but Crouch went into his robot routine.

Owen grabbed his first goal of 2006 as Jamaica's flimsy back-line crumbled again. The England goal ace easily slipped the offside trap to latch onto a long ball from Rio Ferdinand, poked it past keeper Donovan Ricketts and rolled in his 36th England goal.

Crouch took his goal tally to an impressive four in eight internationals, in the 67th minute. Beckham released Jamie Carragher down the right and his low cross was driven into the roof of the net by his Liverpool team-mate Crouch.

Crouch wasted the chance for England's sixth when he missed from the spot after a foul on Owen. But the hat-trick was completed in the last minute with a right-footer from the edge of the box.