Wayne Rooney became England's all-time leading
goalscorer as he scored his 50th international goal in
a 2-0 win over Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on
Tuesday night.
Rooney fired in a late penalty to break Sir Bobby
Charlton's record and prompt emotional
celebrations, after Harry Kane had earlier come off
the bench to put England in front during an even
European Qualifier.
Manchester United striker Rooney had shot wide
early on before seeing two efforts saved by the
goalkeeper, while at the other end Granit Xhaka was
denied by Joe Hart and Stoke's Xherdan Shaqiri also
could not best the England shot-stopper.
The 2-0 win gives England an unassailable lead at the
top of Group E and keeps up their 100 per cent
record during the campaign to reach Euro 2016.
The hosts had an early blow as Fabian Delph -
making his first start of the season - pulled a
hamstring within the first 30 seconds and had to be
withdrawn for Ross Barkley.
Chances were rarely forthcoming in a slow-paced
start to the encounter, but England were enjoying far
more possession than their counterparts, and they
created a good opening as Luke Shaw pushed
forward and fired in a low cross which Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain could only flick way over.
Rooney looked sharp and keen to run early on, and
he went close as he latched on to a James Milner
pass before firing wide from a tight angle.
But Switzerland ended the first half strongly, with
Stoke man Shaqiri providing the greatest threat, first
firing over from distance before being denied by Joe
Hart after being played clean through on goal.
England came out from the break with more intent,
though, and Barkley went close after good work by
Rooney and Sterling, seeing his 20-yard curling effort
headed away by Timm Klose.
Rooney then finally registered his first effort on
target after excellent work from Oxlade-Chamberlain
down the right flank, but he could not generate
enough power on his header from the cross and it
was a simple stop for Yann Sommer.
Soon after that, Rooney had another chance, turning
well before hammering an effort from 25 yards
which wobbled in the air, forcing Sommer to parry it
away.
The game had certainly opened up, and the visitors
went close themselves as Ricardo Rodriguez's low
corner was met by Xhaka at the near post, but Hart
parried his flicked header wide.
Hodgson changed the shape just before the hour,
introducing Kane to the fold, and the Tottenham man
made his mark within 10 minutes of coming on.
Shaw again got forward down the left as Rooney
found him out wide, and the full-back's low ball
missed the players in the middle of the box but fell
for Kane, who hammered a low finish in at the far
post to break the deadlock.
Wayne Rooney scored from the penalty spot to break
Sir Bobby Charlton's England record
Klose had a good chance to equalise at the other end
as he went on one of his many runs forward from
defence, but as the ball broke to him in the box, he
could not get it under control properly and Hart
easily saved his tame effort.
Shaqiri fired wide from distance for Switzerland
before the historic moment came when Raheem
Sterling was felled in the box, and Rooney stepped
up to fire the resulting spot-kick high into the net to
register his 50th international goal and seal top spot
in the group for England.
goalscorer as he scored his 50th international goal in
a 2-0 win over Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on
Tuesday night.
Rooney fired in a late penalty to break Sir Bobby
Charlton's record and prompt emotional
celebrations, after Harry Kane had earlier come off
the bench to put England in front during an even
European Qualifier.
Manchester United striker Rooney had shot wide
early on before seeing two efforts saved by the
goalkeeper, while at the other end Granit Xhaka was
denied by Joe Hart and Stoke's Xherdan Shaqiri also
could not best the England shot-stopper.
The 2-0 win gives England an unassailable lead at the
top of Group E and keeps up their 100 per cent
record during the campaign to reach Euro 2016.
The hosts had an early blow as Fabian Delph -
making his first start of the season - pulled a
hamstring within the first 30 seconds and had to be
withdrawn for Ross Barkley.
Chances were rarely forthcoming in a slow-paced
start to the encounter, but England were enjoying far
more possession than their counterparts, and they
created a good opening as Luke Shaw pushed
forward and fired in a low cross which Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain could only flick way over.
Rooney looked sharp and keen to run early on, and
he went close as he latched on to a James Milner
pass before firing wide from a tight angle.
But Switzerland ended the first half strongly, with
Stoke man Shaqiri providing the greatest threat, first
firing over from distance before being denied by Joe
Hart after being played clean through on goal.
England came out from the break with more intent,
though, and Barkley went close after good work by
Rooney and Sterling, seeing his 20-yard curling effort
headed away by Timm Klose.
Rooney then finally registered his first effort on
target after excellent work from Oxlade-Chamberlain
down the right flank, but he could not generate
enough power on his header from the cross and it
was a simple stop for Yann Sommer.
Soon after that, Rooney had another chance, turning
well before hammering an effort from 25 yards
which wobbled in the air, forcing Sommer to parry it
away.
The game had certainly opened up, and the visitors
went close themselves as Ricardo Rodriguez's low
corner was met by Xhaka at the near post, but Hart
parried his flicked header wide.
Hodgson changed the shape just before the hour,
introducing Kane to the fold, and the Tottenham man
made his mark within 10 minutes of coming on.
Shaw again got forward down the left as Rooney
found him out wide, and the full-back's low ball
missed the players in the middle of the box but fell
for Kane, who hammered a low finish in at the far
post to break the deadlock.
Wayne Rooney scored from the penalty spot to break
Sir Bobby Charlton's England record
Klose had a good chance to equalise at the other end
as he went on one of his many runs forward from
defence, but as the ball broke to him in the box, he
could not get it under control properly and Hart
easily saved his tame effort.
Shaqiri fired wide from distance for Switzerland
before the historic moment came when Raheem
Sterling was felled in the box, and Rooney stepped
up to fire the resulting spot-kick high into the net to
register his 50th international goal and seal top spot
in the group for England.
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