Young upstages Wilshere as England beat Denmark 2-1
Jack Wilshere's first England start was eclipsed by the outstanding second-half performance of Ashley Young as England came from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 at the Parken Stadion.
Wilshere has been labelled England's brightest hope for the future by Fabio Capello, but he had little chance to make an impact during a tough first half, which saw Denmark lead through Daniel Agger before Darren Bent equalised. The Arsenal man was withdrawn at the break along with Wayne Rooney, and Young made the most of his opportunity with the winning goal.
Capello took the gamble of partnering Arsenal teenager Wilshere, a player he likened to Paulo Maldini, alongside Frank Lampard at the heart of England's midfield, but the decision only served to invite sustained Denmark pressure in a largely one-sided first half. The home side led after only seven minutes through Agger's header and, after Bent equalised for England, Denmark will have felt justifiably frustrated not to have led by two or three at half-time.
The tone was set inside three minutes as Nicklas Bendtner latched onto a Glen Johnson mistake to drive wide of the far post, although Rooney should then have scored at the other end when his goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Mathias Jorgenson.
Agger's goal was created by the excellent Christian Eriksen, whose cross was perfect for the Liverpool centre-back after he had lost Michael Dawson inside the area. However, within three minutes England were level, with Capello's other intriguing selection - Darren Bent - doing what he does best to stab home Theo Walcott's cross from two yards.
England failed to build on that equaliser, and Joe Hart's goal led a charmed life for the rest of the opening 45 minutes. First Eriksen drifted onto his left foot to slam a low shot against Hart's left post, and then the Manchester City keeper made an outstanding save to deny Dennis Rommedahl, stretching out his right foot to frustrate the former Charlton man.
Lampard, captaining the side in the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard, had a goal disallowed close to the interval, flicking Walcott's shot into the corner only to see the flag correctly raised.
Capello made changes at the break, withdrawing Wilshere and the ineffective Rooney, and the Manchester United man's replacement Ashley Young so nearly carved out a second goal for Bent with his first touch, delivering a superbly dinked cross only for Thomas Sorensen to spread himself in Peter Schmeichel-like fashion.
Young's second-half performance will have given Capello plenty of food for thought as he troubled Denmark throughout, finding the net on 68 minutes with a lovely caressed finish after Johnson's storming forward run.
