It is probably not a date many people have inked into their pocket diary. But last week brought the 10th anniversary of the last time Michael Owen scored for England, the Chester goal ace bagging twice in a 3-0 trouncing of Russia as Steve McClaren’s golden lions sent a war cry across the bows of Euro 2008 qualification Group E, and a quiver of fear through the pigeon-chest of continental Europe itself.
Except of course it didn’t quite work out like that. England were good against Russia at the FA’s excitingly matt-grey new Wembley, an arena fit to stage the 2018 World Cup final and definitely not only loads of tinny pop concerts and musicals. Owen scored his 39th and 40th England goals, bringing closer the inevitable reeling in of Bobby Charlton’s England record, probably in a World Cup final or something.
Related: Closing divide between England players and fans not easy for Gareth Southgate | Daniel Taylor
Related: Martin Glenn’s next step after sacking Mark Sampson should be to resign | Barney Ronay
Continue reading...