Hungary - England leaves more questions than answers

Walcott breaks record in 3-1 win

Dowie moves north to South London, so Palace take action.

—— England’s penultimate game before the World Cup ends in a comfortable 3-1 win against Hungary at Old Trafford but, ultimately, leaves coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with as many questions as answers as he tries to fill the anticipated void left by Wayne Rooney’s injury.
England largely fail to impress in the first half with a 4-1-3-1-1 system that sees Jamie Carragher protecting the back four and his Liverpool team mate Steven Gerrard supporting lone striker Michael Owen.
They have a great chance to open the scoring just before the break but Crystal Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly saves Frank Lampard’s penalty.
But two minutes into part two, it’s Gerrard on his 26th birthday who breaks the deadlock when he heads home David Beckham’s free-kick.
England go two up four minutes later as another Beckham free-kick and another header sees John Terry score his first international goal.
Any thoughts of a rout were stopped in their tracks though as Pal Dardai pulls one back with a superb curler.
On 65 minutes, Eriksson change to a more traditional 4-4-2 formation and a classic little and large duo up front with 6ft 7ins Peter Crouch being introduced along with record breaker Theo Walcott.
The Arsenal front runner beats Wayne Rooney’s record as England youngest-ever full international. At 17 years and 75 days, he has yet to make his Premiership debut.
Crouch produces a sweet finish from the edge of the box to clinch the victory, and give more fuel to the tactical debates around the nation.
The typically understated coach reflects on a good night’s work: “You must have patience against a team defending with nine men behind the ball. We had that and started the second half very well with two goals.
“I’m happy and I’m sure we’ll be playing even better at the World Cup.”

—– As had been widely rumoured, Iain Dowie succeeds Alan Curbishley at Charlton Athletic and produces a storm of protest from his old club Crystal Palace.
Dowie is named head coach in a four-man management with Les Reed (assistant coach), Mark Robson (development coach) and Andrew Mills (general manager of football).
The former Northern Ireland striker left Palace last week with chairman Simon Jordan explaining that he wished to return nearer to his family in the north.
The Valley is about eight miles north-east of Selhurst Park. Jordan clearly felt Dowie had a longer journey in mind as the press conference to announce his appointment is interrupted by an Eagles representative trying to serve the new boss with a writ for misrepresentation.
As anticipated, Simon Jordan isn’t pleased: “I released him from a compensation clause because he said he wasn’t going to do what he’s done.
“Iain Dowie had a £1m compensation clause in his contract and there is no reason why I would take that out unless it was as a gesture of goodwill.
“I’ll prove it to the High Court. I would not issue a writ on a point of principle, I issue it on a point of law.”
Iain Dowie insists he wanted to leave to find a ‘new challenge’ and adds: “The first conversation I had with Charlton was two days after leaving Palace.
“If that is what he feels then that is what he feels, but it totally misrepresents the conversation I had with Simon.”
It’s a busy day for Palace as their England striker Andy Johnson completes a £8.6million move to Everton. It’s a club record for the Goodison Park club, exceeding the £6million they paid for James Beattie in January 2005.

—– Elsewhere, two other managerial appointments attract somewhat less controversy.
Former Lincoln City boss Keith Alexander is the new man in charge at Peterborough United while Colin Calderwood leaves newly-promoted Northampton Town to succeed Gary Megson at Nottingham Forest.