10 Lessons from Minsk

1) England has a manager who can change things during a game.

At half-time England did not look in good shape against Belarus. They were being carved up at the back, losing control of midfield and failing to supply the strikers. Belarus looked sharp. Against Kazakhstan Capello made a crucial substitution (bringing on Beckham). Now against Belarus, Capello changed formation, moving Gerrard into the middle and moving Rooney forward as a striker rather than a midfielder. The biggest criticism of Sven and McLaren was that when things went bad they couldn't turn them around. So far, Capello can.

2) The jury's still out on Gerrard

Yes, he scored the 1st goal, linked up superbly with Rooney and looked good going forward. BUT in the first half he left too much space on the wing and didn't cover back, which with Bridge looking vulnerable, opened up the defence. What will happen against tougher opposition? Belarus folded, as did Kazakhstan in the end. What about teams who won't fold and will exploit those kinds of spaces?



3) Consider the opposition

At times in the 2nd half Kazakhstan looked classier and sharper. For much of the first half, Belarus looked superb. Yes, England won both games at a canter, but what will happen against tougher opposition? Yes, England's won four games on the trot but three were against low opposition...

4) What's happened to England's defence?

For much of the European qualifying round, England's defence looked terrific. Then crucial injuries wrecked England for two big games against Russia in Moscow and Croatia at Wembley. The goals conceded in the last two matches were jokes. Worse still, it looked as if there could have been more. At one time Kazakhstan had 3 shots on target to England's 1. Bridge, Lescott and Upson do not look good enough. Who was marking Belarus' scorer? Walcott and Gerrard went AWOL at important moments which led to the goal.

5) Lampard and Barry

Fore much of the first half the England midfield seemed to lose control. In the second half, with Gerrard moved inside and given room to move forward, they bossed the midfield. Belarus folded. Lampard and Barry did an excellent job, but memories of the first half are troubling.

6) Rooney's back

Oddly, last year England's defence was strong, the midfield was an embarrassment of riches and the big problem was England couldn't score goals in big matches. Now the defence looks vulnerable, the midfield alternates between porous and strong, and Heskey and Rooney have formed a good combination. Rooney has scored 5 goals in 3 internationals, Walcott scored his famous hat-trick in Zagreb, Heskey has played three excellent games and Crouch would surely have scored against Kazakhstan who were weak in the air. Above all, Rooney's not just scoring he's linking up wlel with Heskey and Gerrard.

7) Wright-Phillips

Again too much mazy running going nowhere and no killing passes.

8) Width

Again, not enough width, partly because Cole is missing and Walcott is in a post-Zagreb stupor.

9) Bridge

Just when Cole had a stinker, Bridge had a great chance but didn't take it.

10) The next big test

Ukraine are looking good and will provide stiffer opposition. Until then, the jury is out on several key areas and players.