Match ends, Estonia 0, England 1.
Estonia 0-1 England
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer in Tallinn
- From the section Football
- Rooney scores 43rd international goal
- England top Group E with three wins from three
- England face Slovenia in next match in November
England laboured to victory over Estonia in Tallinn as Wayne Rooney's late free-kick made it three wins out of three in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Rooney curled his shot in from just outside the area 17 minutes from the end of a mediocre encounter to give England's captain his 43rd goal for his country - six behind all-time record holder Sir Bobby Charlton.
It rescued England as they struggled to break down the stubborn Estonians, who stood firm even after captain Ragnar Klavan had been sent off for a second yellow card three minutes into the second half.
And it spared manager Roy Hodgson some awkward questions over the omission of Raheem Sterling after Liverpool's teenager admitted he was tired following the 5-0 win against San Marino at Wembley.
England monopolised possession but the lack of end product was alarming against opponents who were dogged but hardly an upgrade into the European elite after the stroll against San Marino on Thursday.
Rooney's winner, a rare touch of class, also lifted his own performance after the 28-year-old struggled to apply his usual high standards. Indeed he was in danger of being replaced by Rickie Lambert just before his decisive contribution.
The Manchester United captain had opportunities before and after his goal to move closer to history but his display was in keeping with England's night - largely frustrating and salvaged only by a single moment.
Hodgson used the diamond formation, as he had in the opening 2-0 win against Switzerland in Basel, but whereas there - with Sterling at its point - it looked effective, here it left England lacking in pace, creation and width. It was only when Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the Liverpool youngster were introduced that England looked like getting behind the hosts.
They can justifiably point to a job done, and nine points out of nine, but this largely uninspired fare did little to warm fans who turned out in plummeting temperatures in Tallinn.
There should be few obstacles in England's way on the route to Euro 2016 - the possibility of 10 wins remains a strong one - but it is to be hoped the level of excitement is greater than that witnessed here in a group not exactly sprinkled with stardust.
After a minor scare in the opening seconds, England dominated the first period to such an extent that one point they enjoyed an 82% share of possession - the more telling statistic was that they did not muster a shot on target until the dying moments of the half.
This had much to do with Rooney's failure to accept chances, volleying over from Jack Wilshere's pass and showing an uncharacteristic lack of control and sharpness in the area when given other opportunities.
The visitors were looking for any advantage they could get and one arrived three minutes into the second half when Klavan departed after a cynical barge on Fabian Delph.
Hodgson made two changes in quick succession just after the hour as Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sterling replaced Delph and Jordan Henderson.
And Sterling was involved as England finally broke Estonia down after 73 minutes. He was fouled on the angle of the penalty area and Rooney weighed his options up carefully before curling in a low, right-foot effort from the set-piece.
Line-ups
Estonia
- 1Pareiko
- 17Jääger
- 4Morozov
- 15KlavanBooked at 48mins
- 19Pikk
- 18Mets
- 16Antonov
- 14VassiljevSubstituted forLindpereat 45'minutes
- 13VunkSubstituted forKruglovat 83'minutes
- 10ZenjovSubstituted forOjamaaat 80'minutes
- 8Anier
Substitutes
- 2Lindpere
- 3Bärengrub
- 5Kruglov
- 6Dmitrijev
- 7Saag
- 9Hunt
- 11Ojamaa
- 12Aksalu
- 20Kams
- 21Artjunin
- 22Londak
- 23Teniste
England
- 1Hart
- 2Chambers
- 5Cahill
- 6Jagielka
- 3BainesBooked at 45mins
- 7WilshereBooked at 87mins
- 4HendersonBooked at 53minsSubstituted forSterlingat 64'minutes
- 8DelphSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 61'minutes
- 11Lallana
- 9WelbeckSubstituted forLambertat 80'minutes
- 10Rooney
Substitutes
- 12Clyne
- 13Foster
- 14Gibbs
- 15Shelvey
- 16Milner
- 17Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 18Townsend
- 19Sterling
- 20Lambert
- 21Forster
- Referee:
- Marijo Strahonja
- Attendance:
- 10,195
Match Stats
Home TeamEstoniaAway TeamEngland
- Possession
- Home23%
- Away77%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away25
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away6
- Corners
- Home1
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away9
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Estonia 0, England 1.
Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Jack Wilshere (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Igor Morozov (Estonia).
Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jack Wilshere with a through ball.
Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a cross.
Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Calum Chambers.
Attempt saved. Dmitri Kruglov (Estonia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Jack Wilshere (England) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jack Wilshere (England).
Ilja Antonov (Estonia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Raheem Sterling (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Dmitri Kruglov (Estonia).
Substitution
Substitution, Estonia. Dmitri Kruglov replaces Martin Vunk.
Foul by Rickie Lambert (England).
Karol Mets (Estonia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Hand ball by Henri Anier (Estonia).
Substitution
Substitution, England. Rickie Lambert replaces Danny Welbeck.
Substitution
Substitution, Estonia. Henrik Ojamaa replaces Sergei Zenjov.
Attempt blocked. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Corner, England. Conceded by Artur Pikk.
Foul by Calum Chambers (England).
Joel Lindpere (Estonia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Estonia 0, England 1. Wayne Rooney (England) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Raheem Sterling (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Martin Vunk (Estonia).
Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (England) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Wilshere.
Attempt missed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (England) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Calum Chambers with a cross.
Attempt missed. Danny Welbeck (England) header from very close range is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Leighton Baines with a cross.
Corner, England. Conceded by Igor Morozov.
Offside, Estonia. Henri Anier tries a through ball, but Sergei Zenjov is caught offside.
Adam Lallana (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Martin Vunk (Estonia).
Substitution
Substitution, England. Raheem Sterling replaces Jordan Henderson.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Joel Lindpere (Estonia).
Phil Jagielka (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Henri Anier (Estonia).
