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Peter Crouch Made The Difference For England - Liverpool Skipper Steven Gerrard
Spurs man's impact was decisive at Wembley...
04-Mar-2010 4:44:00 PM
By Zack Wilson
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard beileves that England's victory over Egypt on Wednesday night was down to the impact of substitutes Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Gerrard captained the Three Lions to their 3-1 win, achieved only after going a goal down in the first half to a Pharoahs team who looked in good form.
Crouch and Wright-Phillips emerged from the bench though to seal victory, the Tottenham Hotspur striker notching a brace and the Manchester City winger one as Fabio Capello's side came back strongly.
"Crouchie made a big difference, as did Shaun Wright-Phillips, and I suppose we could have won the game even more comfortably," said Gerrard, according to his club's official website.
"Hopefully we will have Algeria [who are in England's World Cup group] a little bit concerned now.
"If they had seen Egypt beat us, it would have given them massive confidence.
"We are hoping now that it will have the reverse effect. There has been a lot written about this team in the last few weeks and we had to react.
"We had the perfect platform to show everyone we are still a good team, that the confidence and togetherness is still there and I thought we showed amazing character."
Gerrard was also delighted to have worn the captain's armband at Wembley.
"It was a fantastic moment for me. I felt amazing in the tunnel leading the boys out and it was very nice to get a win," he added.
"But it was also important that we got the win, given the stuff that has been happening off the pitch.
"It was important to send the supporters away feeling happy."
Gerrard captained the Three Lions to their 3-1 win, achieved only after going a goal down in the first half to a Pharoahs team who looked in good form.
Crouch and Wright-Phillips emerged from the bench though to seal victory, the Tottenham Hotspur striker notching a brace and the Manchester City winger one as Fabio Capello's side came back strongly.
"Crouchie made a big difference, as did Shaun Wright-Phillips, and I suppose we could have won the game even more comfortably," said Gerrard, according to his club's official website.
"Hopefully we will have Algeria [who are in England's World Cup group] a little bit concerned now.
"If they had seen Egypt beat us, it would have given them massive confidence.
"We are hoping now that it will have the reverse effect. There has been a lot written about this team in the last few weeks and we had to react.
"We had the perfect platform to show everyone we are still a good team, that the confidence and togetherness is still there and I thought we showed amazing character."
Gerrard was also delighted to have worn the captain's armband at Wembley.
"It was a fantastic moment for me. I felt amazing in the tunnel leading the boys out and it was very nice to get a win," he added.
"But it was also important that we got the win, given the stuff that has been happening off the pitch.
"It was important to send the supporters away feeling happy."
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