Currently ranked 196th in the FIFA world standings, with only eleven other countries below them, last night’s clash against Andorra was always going to be a David and Goliath affair. The one sided match, which saw the visitors only manage 20% of the procession in the 90 minutes played, was just another stepping stone for England as they continue their impressive, not to mention unbeaten, run in qualifications for next years World Cup competition.
Fabio Capello could of easily fielded a weakened side to help players rest after a long League campaign, giving the chance to certain squad members to gain some important international time, but instead he made just three changes to the side that put four past Kazakhstan , showing fans that he cannot afford to take his eye off the ball, until we are official announced as qualifiers.
One player that stood head and shoulders above the rest was right back Glen Johnson. Johnson 24, was involved in all three opening goals and continued to deliver in the second half, when he set up former team mate Jermain Defoe for his first of the night.
Despite only having 15 caps under his belt, the young defender showed a thirst for an attacking style of play, which is pleasing to see compared to previous right backs, such as Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and even Danny Mills. Although the previous England right backs have attacked well, Johnson seems to take it that little bit further, bringing is current club form to England.
Johnson, on a personal level, had a very successful 2008-09 campaign despite Portsmouth finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League. It was announced at the end of the season that Johnson had been named in the PFA team of the year, only the second player to do so since pompey gained promotion to the England’s top flight.
With the only other options of injury prone Ledley King or Micah Richards, who is still yet to prove himself on the international circuit, it looks like Johnson has done himself no harm by taking full advantage of England’s last two weakened opponents. At such a young age it is quite possible we could have an answer to the current vacant right back position, which has been begging for an Ashley Cole clone for some time.
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