Margaretha blog

England beats Switzerland 3-1 in Euro qualifier

BASEL, Switzerland – Wayne Rooney made some positive news.

The star forward put aside the embarrassing headlines about his personal life to score his first goal for England in nearly a year, sparking the Three Lions to 3-1 win Tuesday over Switzerland in a European Championship qualifier.

Rooney scored in the 10th minute, slotting home Glen Johnson's pass for his first England goal since last Sept. 9 against Croatia.

"He was focused on the game. The whole team played very well, not only Rooney," England coach Fabio Capello said.

Capello insisted on Monday that it was best for Rooney to play to escape the pressure in his personal life following Sunday tabloid stories alleging he cheated on his pregnant wife last year with a prostitute.

Rooney scored off a Johnson pass that was perfectly dummied by Jermain Defoe. Arriving late and unmarked, Rooney slotted home in front of goal.

It was a 26th international goal for the Manchester United forward, who was then joined on the field by a fifth Manchester City player when Adam Johnson replaced Theo Walcott, who was injured in the scoring move. The Arsenal winger was taken to hospital for scan on a suspected sprained right ankle.

Substitute Adam Johnson rounded goalkeeper Diego Benaglio to make it 2-0 in the 69th, four minutes after Swiss right back Stephan Lichtsteiner was ejected for fouling James Milner.

Teenager Xherdan Shaqiri gave Switzerland hope with a long-range goal in the 71st, but England substitute Darren Bent sealed the game in the 88th with a low shot.

"They were able to wait for counter attacks and bring the game home," Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said.

Following its 4-1 loss to Germany in the second round of the World Cup, Capello's team opened Euro 2012 qualifying with back-to-back wins. The Three Lions routed Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley last Friday.

"We are very good because we are fresh. (The players') minds are free," Capello said. "Switzerland is the most important opponent for our group. To win here is really, really important, not only for the result but the performance."

England resumes Group G play at home against Montenegro on Oct. 12, four days after Switzerland travels to the Montenegrins.

The England coach opted to partner former Everton teammates Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott in central defense, with regular starters Rio Ferdinand and John Terry out injured.

England soon mastered a wet field soaked by a downpour during the warmups and scored at the end occupied by its 3,000 traveling fans.