Andy Carroll stakes his claim with Fabio Capello

Nov 18 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

IT took him just one half of his international debut against France last night for Andy Carroll to launch an argument to suggest he will be part of England’s plans for years to come.

In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say the Newcastle United striker was England’s most effective player in the first half, holding the ball up well and winning more than his fair share of headers.

Given the manner in which England were out-played by an equally young France side raises worrying questions about what that future will be, but Carroll will surely be a part of it all the same.

When Fabio Capello’s side did threaten in a generally poor first 45 minutes, Carroll was always involved. The fact he was fouled a few seconds in, shoved in the back as he looked to win a header, hinted at the French’s fear of him.

On that occasion Steven Gerrard’s low free-kick was easy for Hugo Lloris to deal with, but it boded well. Newcastle may not have wanted him to play, but there was no sign of any discomfort in their number nine and he gave another indication of his growing stature midway through the half.

England had struggled to get the ball and if there is one danger of playing Carroll it is the fact that, time and time again, England’s defenders looked to hit the ball 40 yards from the back to try and find him. It was too predictable, but sometimes it isn’t enough to just know what is coming.

With two defenders supposedly marking him, Carroll was still able to win a header from a free-kick and knock the ball down to find the run of Gerrard, unfortunately, having timed his run well, the Liverpool man was unable to control a difficult shot as he ran on to the ball.

It was still England’s best chance of the half, Carroll testing Lloris from long-range moments later, but it was straight at the goalkeeper, who got his whole body behind it despite some swerve.

At times England were out-classed by their neighbours from over the Channel, chasing shadows and looking as though their defence would be sliced open constantly by slick passing and movement of their visitors.

It was after 16 minutes, Florent Malouda and Kazim Benzema combining to pierce trough the line of defenders, Benzema’s low shot appearing to catch Ben Foster by surprise and the Birmingham goalkeeper will be annoyed at the seeing the ball fly past his out-stretched leg and inside his near post.

Foster had done rather better to keep out a dipping strike from Yoann Gourcuff a few minutes earlier, but it will not have done his chances of moving ahead of the injured Joe Hart much good to concede a goal in such fashion.

At least England gradually come into it and, after a largely anonymous first 20 minutes, Sunderland’s Jordan Henderson began to get his foot on the ball and tried to get Capello’s men moving forward.

It was not his fault the French midfield looked superior, Gerrard was having a poor game and how much longer can England persevere with Gareth Barry. He looked slow, off the pace and rarely managed to snuff out France’s midfield runners. He offers nothing going forward and Capello should be stepping up his search for a new defensive midfielder as part of the Italian’s desire to blood a new generation.

It was a difficult test for Henderson on his debut, but he would have liked to have seen more of the ball, although the home side’s cause was not helped by the ineffectiveness of their wingers. Neither Theo Walcott nor James Milner – who still gives the impression of a footballer average at everything, outstanding at nothing – managed a single dangerous centre from either wing in the first half and neither did they manage to get in behind Les Bleus’ defence.

Walcott paid for that by being replaced at half-time, but still France looked the better side, Mathieu Valbuena doubling France’s lead when he turned in Bacary Sagna’s excellent cross ten minutes into the half.

England did improve a little, Carroll continuing to be a menace, even though none of the players around, with the exception of Gerrard, looked to have either the interest or the anticipation to get on the end of anything.

To Chris Hughton’s relief, Carroll was eventually taken off with 18 minutes left – although given the fact he had publicly disputed whether he was fit to play at all he would have preferred to see him depart at half-time – and a warm round of applause even on a disappointing night for England, illustrated how well he had done.

Henderson remained, but his inability to dictate the game continued, although other, far more established internationals, were far more frustrating with their lack of any meaningful contribution.

Gerrard almost pulled one back to make a game of it, refusing to give up on a deep free-kick which he managed to somehow direct back towards goal. Lloris was beaten, but the crossbar came to his rescue. The Liverpool skipper also saw a shot flash just wide after Lloris failed to hold on to Adam Johnson’s shot.

The ex-Middlesbrough winger had a few of bright moments after coming on as a substitute, but England were poor, despite Peter Crouch’s well-taken goal.

After a goalless draw with Montenegro, the question marks surrounding Capello’s ability to mould a winning team remain. They have still not beaten another nation ranked in the top ten in the world under his hand, although he will console himself with the encouraging things he has seen from Carroll and the fact this was, by and large, a makeshift side, particularly in a defence which conceded two simple goals.