The Hindu : Sport / Football : Crouch stars with hat-trick

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Monday, Jun 05, 2006

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Sport - Football

Crouch stars with hat-trick

Jan Koller's performance brings cheer to the Czech Republic camp

BERLIN: England, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Portugal earned big wins on Saturday, six days before the start of the World Cup.

Peter Crouch led England with three goals and Michael Owen added another in the team's 6-0 win over Jamaica.

The Czechs got two goals from Jan Koller in a 3-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, which has also qualified for the World Cup. Alexander Frei and Marco Streller scored twice each to lead Switzerland to a 4-1 win over China.

Portugal beat Luxembourg 3-0, thanks to two goals from Simao Sabrosa and one from Luis Figo.

Poland defeated Croatia 1-0 with Euzebiusz Smolarek heading home the winner. Both these teams have made it to World Cup which opens on Friday in Munich.

Raul scores

In another match, Raul Gonzalez ended a seven-month goal drought as Spain beat Egypt 2-0. Raul scored from close range in the 14th minute after Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari fumbled a low shot by Antonio Lopez.

Substitute Jose Antonio Reyes added the second in a victory that extended Spain's undefeated run to 21 matches — 13 wins and eight draws — since coach Luis Aragones took charge after the team flopped in the European championship two years ago.

Day of firsts

At Old Trafford, Owen scored his first goal of the year in the 32nd minute and Crouch completed his first hat-trick for England when he took Owen's cross from the edge of the box in the 89th, six minutes after sending a penalty kick over the bar.

Frank Lampard also scored, while Jamaica's Jermaine Taylor contributed with an own goal.

Positive sign

Owen's goal was his 36th in 77 appearances and his first since he broke his foot on December 31, 2005. Saturday's game was only his fourth this year and the first where he played the full 90 minutes.

``We got 90 minutes out of him and I think he played much better today than the last time,'' Eriksson said. ``That was maybe the answer I wanted. I wanted to see him going into tackles, holding the ball up and doing some sprints, and that's good news.''

Koller, the Czech Republic's all-time leading scorer, scored his 41st and 42nd international goals, both in the first half. Pavel Nedved completed the tally in their match in Prague. Koller returned to the national team only this week after missing almost the entire season due to a knee injury.

``I was very satisfied with Jan Koller,'' Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said. ``His play is exactly what we need. I feel very good about him.''

Frei, Streller shine

In Zurich, Frei tapped in Raphael Wicky's pass from close range in the 40th minute and Streller doubled the lead just after half-time.

Frei then scored from the penalty spot two minutes later — his 25th goal in 45 matches — after Ludovic Magnin was fouled in the box. Streller added the fourth in the 73rd. China substitute Dong Fangzhuo scored a late consolation goal for the visitor.

Simao strikes twice

Simao scored his first goal in the 46th minute off a rebound after Helder Postiga's shot was stopped by Luxembourg goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert. He scored another goal in the 72nd when Alphonse Leweck tripped Figo in the box to earn Portugal a penalty.

Figo himself slipped in a third goal in the 85th minute in their encounter at Metz, France.

The results: England bt Jamaica 6-0; Czech Republic bt Trinidad & Tobago 3-0; Switzerland bt China 4-1; Spain bt Egypt 2-0; Poland bt Croatia 1-0; Portugal bt Luxembourg 3-0. — Agencies

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