Cole saves England's blushes

11:04pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

Joe Cole scrambled an injury-time equaliser for unimpressive England as they drew 2-2 with the Czech Republic in their final warm-up game before the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Cole scored from close range after Emile Heskey had knocked the ball back into his path.

The Czechs had twice led through Milan Baros and Marek Jankulovski but Wes Brown's first England goal and Cole's late strike salvaged a draw for Fabio Capello's side.

The warning signs were there as early as the quarter-hour mark when Jan Polak slid the ball through to Baros, whose fierce drive required a sharp save from David James.

The opener came in the 22nd minute, with the build-up starting on the left flank. Radek Sirl checked his run to trick Brown then passed square to Baros, whose finish cannoned in off Ashley Cole to wrongfoot James.

If England were running out of ideas when going forward, it took the reliable right boot of David Beckham to help restore parity.

Beckham's corner from the right flank was swung towards goal and Brown headed in at the near post to give Capello his equaliser seconds before the half-time break.

It took the visitors three minutes after the restart to take the lead again. Brown had given the ball away for Polak to have a long-range effort as the Czechs started brightly - then came the goal after Gareth Barry had launched himself into another reckless challenge after testing the patience of referee Terje Hauge in the first half.

Jankulovski's free-kick curled into the top corner, with James again wrongfooted as he stood rooted to the spot with the ball flashing past him.

And it looked like a second defeat in five matches for Capello until Cole struck, saving face on an embarrassing evening.

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