sport

COLE GOAL SPARES ENGLAND BLUSHES

Brown's first goal brought England level.

Fabio Capello learnt very little ahead of the World Cup qualifiers as England earned a late 2-2 friendly draw with Czech Republic at Wembley.

Any hope of a fresh change of direction under the strict Italian was dashed when he selected a 4-4-2 line-up which saw Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Gareth Barry filling the midfield berths.

That meant no starting role for Chelsea's Joe Cole, and Jermain Defoe partnered Wayne Rooney in attack.

John Terry took the captain's armband on a permanent basis, but England were decidedly dodgy in defence against a classy Czech outfit.

Lone striker Milan Baros fired a warning shot early on, drawing a fine one-handed save from David James.

But England ignored it, and Baros gave the visitors the lead on 22 minutes when he brilliantly turned Terry and fired home a shot which took a heavy deflection off the boot of Ashley Cole before nestling in the net.

To England's credit, the goal sparked them into life and Petr Cech found himself under siege for the remainder of the first half, saving long-range efforts from Defoe, Gerrard and Rooney, who also steered a header straight at the Chelsea stopper on 31 minutes.

The hosts' momentum was finally rewarded on the stroke of half-time, when a Beckham corner was powerfully headed home by Wes Brown.

But the Czechs were bouncing once again three minutes after the interval, when Marek Jankulovski's stunning left-footed free-kick sailed over the wall and into the top corner, leaving James with a bemused look on his face.

That look was there again after the Portsmouth giant was left in no man's land after racing out of his goal on 60, only to see Vaclav Sverlos beat him to the ball but steer an angled effort wide of the upright with Terry guarding the goal.

Most of the second-half action came from the bench, with Joe Cole, Jonathan Woodgate, Stewart Downing, David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas entering the fray at various stages.

But after Downing fired a half-volley narrowly wide late on, Joe Cole scrambled home a stoppage-time equaliser from close range to put some gloss on a poor display which failed to mask England's shortcomings.