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England national football team
International Friendlies
Sep 3, 2014 at 8pm UK
 
Norway national football team

1-0

Rooney (68' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Player Ratings: England 1-0 Norway

Sports Mole takes a closer look at the performances of all the players involved in England's 1-0 friendly win over Norway at Wembley this evening.

England picked up their first win since May this evening courtesy of a 1-0 friendly victory over Norway at Wembley.

The only goal of the game came from Wayne Rooney, who fired a spot kick past the keeper after Raheem Sterling had been brought down.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at who impressed during the Three Lions' first match since the World Cup.


Wayne Rooney of England gestures during the International friendly match between England and Norway at Wembley Stadium on September 3, 2014© Getty Images

ENGLAND

Goal

Joe Hart: Had long spells when he didn't have to do anything, but came up with the goods when needed. Made a couple of vital saves at the start of the second half, including one very impressive one to deny a King header. (7/10)

Defence

John Stones: Solid performance from the youngster. Perhaps should have ventured forward a bit more considering England's dominance in the first half, but didn't do anything wrong. (6/10)

Gary Cahill: Will have to be one of the leaders of the team now, with Gerrard and Lampard retiring. Had an easy time of it for the most part, but was caught out on a couple of occasions in the second half, including one dreadful back-pass that he was lucky to get away with. (6/10)

Phil Jones: Defended fairly well on the whole, keeping Norway quiet for the vast majority of the match. Didn't have too much to do considering how much England controlled the first half in particular, but will be pleased with his general display. (6/10)

Leighton Baines: Got forward well from left-back and posed a number of problems in an attacking sense. Also impressed in defence, making a few important interceptions at vital moments. (7/10)

Midfield

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Was heavily involved for most of the first half and seemed to have the beating of his marker, but his final ball was generally poor. Bright moments, but not as productive as he could, and should, have been. (6/10)

Jordan Henderson: Solid display in the middle of the park from Henderson. He has a big role to play in the absence of Gerrard now, and did nothing this evening to suggest that he won't start again on Monday. (6/10)

Jack Wilshere: A couple of nice touches here and there, including one lovely pass over the top for Oxlade-Chamberlain. Gave the ball away a couple of times but generally won it back soon after. Nothing special from the Arsenal man, but a sturdy performance. (6/10)

Raheem Sterling: The man of the match. Looked bright every time he got the ball and caused the defence more problems than anyone else. Linked up with Sturridge well, and thrived when moved into a central role later in the game. Also won the penalty for his side with some quick feet inside the box. (8/10)

Attack

Wayne Rooney: Scored the winning goal, but offered very little apart from his penalty. Was largely anonymous, drifting out of position all too often and failing to make his mark on the game. His penalty was superb, giving the keeper no chance, but that isn't enough to paper over his performance. In terms of general play, he was poor. Not a good start to life as captain. (5/10)

Daniel Sturridge: Looked bright throughout and was England's main goal threat in the first half. His finishing was a little suspect at times and he perhaps should have made more of some of the situations he found himself in, but he was a danger all game. Linked with Sterling well and was always looking to inject some pace into the attack. (7/10)

Substitutes

Fabian Delph: Came on for his debut and arrived with plenty of energy. Made a few good contributions here and there and helped England improve in the last 20 minutes. All in all, a promising start to his England career. (6/10)

James Milner: Was another of a triple change that improved things for the hosts. Had a chance to get on the scoresheet when set up by Sterling following a quick break, but took too long over his shot. (6/10)

Danny Welbeck: Brought a lot more pace and energy to the attack having replaced Rooney. Stung the palms of the keeper with one shot and fizzed a dangerous ball right across the face of goal shortly afterwards. A very bright cameo from the new Arsenal striker. (7/10)

Calum Chambers: Made his debut for the final nine minutes and got a few good touches of the ball. Didn't get too much of a chance to show what he can do, but looked at ease at international level. (6/10)

Phil Jagielka: Replaced Cahill for the final six minutes of normal time and was not tested at all. (6/10)

Rickie Lambert: Came on for Liverpool teammate Sturridge in the 89th minute and got his head onto one cross without threatening the keeper. (6/10)


England's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain controls the ball during the international friendly football match between England and Norway at Wembley Stadium in north London on September 3, 2014© Getty Images

NORWAY

Goal

Orjan Nyland: Had a quiet evening despite England's dominance of possession. Only had two shots on target to deal with, one of which he saved well from Welbeck, and the other one he could do nothing about as Rooney fired a penalty home. (6/10)

Defence

Omar Elabdellaoui: Didn't get a chance to show what he can do going forward as England kept him pinned back for most of the game. Struggled at times against Baines and Sterling, the latter of whom he tripped to concede the penalty. (5/10)

Havard Nordtveit: Survived a penalty shout in the first half and, although the referee was right to dismiss it, it was still a clumsy challenge. Other than that, kept England at bay fairly well. (6/10)

Vegard Forren: Caused a stir by labelling Rooney "chubby" before the match, but dealt with his newfound foe comfortably. Like Nordtveit, limited England to just one shot on target from open play despite the hosts' dominance. (6/10)

Martin Linnes: Made a few bright breaks forward and put one good ball into the box that had to be well cleared by Baines. However, was forced off after 36 minutes through injury. (6/10)

Midfield

Mats Moller Daehli: Began to threaten at the start of the second half and was a big reason for Norway's resurgence. That ended when he got injured, however, being stretchered off shortly before the hour mark. (6/10)

Per Skjelbred: Spent most of his evening chasing the ball around, but protected his defence well as England probed for a way through. (6/10)

Ruben Jenssen: Didn't get many opportunities on the ball himself as England dominated possession in the middle of the park but, like Skjelbred, did a good job of making the visitors hard to break down. (6/10)

Stefan Johansen: Made one brilliant block to deny Milner after England had broken quickly from a poor Norway corner. Contributed to the team defensive effort well. (6/10)

Tarik Elyounoussi: Saw as much of the ball as any other Norwegian player, but couldn't do anything to alter the course of the match. (6/10)

Attack

Joshua King: Anonymous for the entire first half as his side left him isolated, but came to life after the break. Had a good header well saved by Hart before threatening again moments later following Cahill's poor back-pass. Didn't get many chances to shine, but was his side's best player when they did provide him with service. (7/10)

Substitutes

Per Egil Flo: Replaced the injured Linnes at left-back after just 36 minutes and did a decent job of keeping Oxlade-Chamberlain relatively quiet. (6/10)

Anders Konradsen: Came on for the injured Daehli shortly before the hour. Didn't carry as much of a threat as the man he replaced. (6/10)

Mohamed Elyounoussi: Introduced with just over 20 minutes left, but couldn't conjure anything up to get his side back into the match. (6/10)

Havard Nielsen: Came on for King with 15 minutes remaining but was not given a chance to threaten like the Blackburn Rovers striker did. (6/10)

Ola Kamara: One of a flurry of introductions in the final third of the match, but much like the rest had little impact. (6/10)

Morten Gamst Pedersen: Despite only being 1-0 when he came on with two minutes of normal time left, the match felt over as a contest. The veteran could do nothing to change that. (6/10)


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England's Daniel Sturridge vies with Norway's Ruben Yttergard Jenssen during the international friendly football match between England and Norway at Wembley Stadium in north London on September 3, 2014
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