England against Netherlands

Five minutes to go at Villa Park and it would be very surprising if either side were to score a goal now.

There is no doubt that Kuijt has been Holland's most dangerous player this evening, which is not too surprising for a man who is the top scorer in Eredivisie at present.

And, as he leaves the field, Beckham hands the captain's armband to his No2 Owen.

Eriksson takes off his skipper Beckham and Gerrard and replaces them in midfield with the Newcastle duo of Jenas and Dyer.

Downing takes a heavy tackle on his shin from van Bommel and is down receiving treatment, but he looks like he is OK.

England are about to introduce a couple more substitutes, although they are only going to get ten minutes of action.

Gerrard finds Johnson with an accurate pass, but his low centre is blocked and spins out for an England throw-in. Johnson appears wasted playing as a right winger.

But, the left-wing corner is overhit to the back post, where England are able to hack the ball away to safety through Neville.

A close call for England after Kuijt and van der Vaart work the ball to van Bommel on the edge of the box, but Cole makes a goal-saving block to divert the ball away for a corner.

A good ball over the top of the Dutch defence finds Owen, but not for the first time tonight, he is totally lacking support and has no options to pick out and the attack breaks down.

Van der Sar, skipper tonight, is now closing in on the all-time Dutch appearance record, four away from his century.

Unfortunately Johnson has not even had his first touch as an England player yet and he must have been on the field of play for about five minutes.

But, not for the first time this evening, Beckham takes a quick free kick that comes to nothing. His set pieces have not lived up to expectations so far.

Beckham wins England a free kick after he was tackled from behind and it's level with the penalty area, left-hand channel.

As we enter the final 20 minutes here at Villa Park, will Eriksson introduce any more substitutes into the fray?

Cole goes on a marauding run down England's left flank, but having appeared to have done all the hard work, gives away a free kick for a foul on Boulahrouz.

A nasty late tackle on Brown gives England a free kick deep inside their own half - that could have resulted in a bad injury for the United defender, but luckily he has picked himself up and is OK.

Johnson appears to be playing on the right hand side of the three forwards, with Downing on the left.

Downing is the first Middlesbrough-born player, who also plays for Boro at the time, to feature for England in 40 years.

And that was Castelen's final action of the night as he has been replaced by Yildirim.

Castelen thinks he has given the Dutch the lead after arching an unstoppable half-volley into the top right-hand corner of Robinson's goal, but the referee had already blown up for a foul on Cole - a correct decision.

And the PSV Eindhoven skipper is a player that has been followed by many Premiership clubs in recent seasons.

Van Bommel scored against England the last time the two sides met on these shores at White Hart Lane, and what a goal it was.

And the Dutch bring on van Bommel for Heitinga.

England bring on Downing and Jonhson for Rooney and Wright-Phillips.

Beckham delivers the free kick from a central position, about 30 yards out, but although his effort is accurate, it does not have the pace to trouble Van der Sar.

Brilliant sole run by Rooney through three Dutch defenders and he is only halted by a late trip by Mathijsen.

It appears as though Downing and Johnson are about to enter the fray, with both getting ready on the touchline.

The visitors have begun this second period in a far more positive frame of mind and are really taking the game to the hosts.

And now Holland come close to breaking the deadlock themselves through Makaay after the ball falls kindly to the striker on the edge of the six-yard box, but he drags his effort horribly wide of Robinson's near post.

And now England come close to taking the lead after Gerrard delivers a dangerous, curling centre that all but picks out the diving Beckham, but not quite.

A dangerous moment for England after Kuijt and Kromkamp play a neat one-two on the edge of the England box, but the defenders' cross-shot eludes everyone and drifts out for a goal kick.

Castelen and Cole are having a really engaging battle down Engfland's left flank.

But, Beckham's left-wing corner is overhit to the back post and Brown is unable to make any contact.

Free kick to England, taken by Beckham and delivered into a dangerous position where the Dutch defence simply opt to concede a corner.

Hargreaves appears to be playing the anchor role for England this evening, perhaps his best role for his country.

It is a cliche, but this game really needs a goal to spice it up.

The Dutch only have five substitutes on the bench, while England have 11 to pick from.

Surprisingly, Sven-Goran Eriksson has not introduced either Downing or Johnson, as yet.

Hargreaves has come on for Lampard for England, while Holland have kept the same side.

And that is half-time at Villa Park, with the score goalless, but not for a lack of effort from both sides.

The fourth official has indicated that there wont be any time to be added on at the end of what has been an entertaining first period.

But, Beckham's effort hits the wall and the Dutch clear up field.

Owen has won England a free kick in a very dangerous position, right on the edge of the area, slightly to the left-hand side, to be taken by Beckham.

Both coachers will be fairly happy with proceedings at present, going into half-time.

England will be making changes at the break, with both Downing and Johnson expected to enter the fray.

Rooney is penalised, rather harshly, as he charges towards the Dutch penalty area, for a foul on Heitinga.

Another half-chance falls the way of Wright-Phillips, but the winger cannot get the ball fully under control and the Dutch manage to clear their lines.

Amazingly, the last time England beat Holland was in that famous 4-1 meeting at Wembley during Euro 96.

But England are solid in defence and clear their lines well, before the ball breaks to Landzaat on the edge of the area, but he sends a long-range effort high over the bar.

Holland have won themselves a right-wing corner after Cole does well to block the lively Castelen's cross.

The game is now mainly being played in midfield, with van der Vaart also being fairly quiet at present for the Dutch.

Great skill by Wright-Phillips takes him away from Kromkamp and into the box, but the youngster rushes his shot and it drifts well wide of Van der Sar's near post.

The outstanding Makaay has been a virtual spectator so far.

Makaay tries to drill a cross shot across the England six-yard box from the edge of the area, but there are no Dutch players in the box and the ball comes out harmlessly for a goal kick.

Since Kuijt hit the post, the Dutch really have failed to trouble the England defence at all, with it being all the home side at present.

Huge claims for a free kick to England after it appeared that Owen was fouled from behind, but the Sweedish referee just waves play on.

Right-winger corner taken by Beckham to the back post, where Lampard brings the ball down brilliantly, before being crowded out by a mass of Dutch defenders.

A mazy 30-yard dribble by Wright-Phillips takes him past three Dutchmen, until a fourth gets back just in the nip of time to concede a corner.

Castelen looks a teriffic player for the visitors, the 21-year-old Feyenoord right winger.

Beckham picks out a great ball for Owen, who meets it with a crip volley from the edge of the box, but he makes too good a contact and the ball flies over for a goal kick.

A fantastic crossfield pass by Gerrard almost picks out the onrushing Wright-Phillips. Throw-in to Holland.

Now it is Beckham's turn to give away a free kick after he brings down Heitinga out of frustration.

A clever free kick finds the unmarked Gerrard in the six-yard box, but the midfield man completely miskicks in front of goal and the Dutch escape.

Another free kick to England after a foul on Beckham and it is the skipper himself who will take the set piece from wide on the right, level with the area.

The City flyer could really have scored two goals already.

Free kick to England, taken quickly by Beckham to Neville, who catches the Dutch defence fast asleep, but somehow Wright-Phillips misses an open goal. An unbelievable miss.

Currently, England have decided to swap round Wright-Phillips and Rooney, with the former now operating on the left wing.

Well, for a friendly, this has been a very entertaining opening, with both sides attacking at will.

But, Beckham's left-wing corner is disappointing and overhit to the back post, where the Dutch easily clear.

A great opening for Wright-Phillips after Beckham is released down the Dutch inside left channel and his pull-back finds the City winger, but his shot is deflected wide for a corner.

Wright-Phillips wins England a free kick out on the left-hand touchline after a late tackle on him by Boulahrouz.

Now England break up field through Rooney, who plays a neat one-two with Owen, before the front man picks out Gerrard on the edge of the area, but the Liverpool man lifts his shot over the bar.

Kuijt beats Robinson with a long-range effort from just outside the area, but the ball rebounds to safety off the post much to England's relief - that all started when Wright-Phillips gave the ball away in midfield.

There is just the one Dutch player who plays in the Premiership on view in Birmingham and that is Van der Sar.

Half chance for England after a great through-ball by Gerrard finds the onrushing Beckham, but Van der Sar claims well.

The delivery is excellent, but Brown does very well to get his head on the inswinging delivery and powerfully clears his lines.

The Dutch are enjoying a good period of possession at the moment, playing neat triangles around the home players, before Cole concedes a free kick on the right-hand touchline.

But, the left-wing corner is poor and easily cleared at the near post by Beckham.

Castelen delivers an excellent right-wing centre that leads to a corner after Neville's poor back header.

Meanwhile, England themselves are trying out a new central defensive partnership, with Carragher and Brown lining up at the heart of the defence.

The Fulham No1 is making his 96th appearance for the Dutch tonight.

England have won themselves an early right-wing corner, taken by Beckham and well met by Gerrard, only for Van der Sar to cooly claim on his line.

The Dutch are playing in their new anti-racism kit of black and white this evening, with England in their traditional red shirts and white shorts.

Holland kick off this friendly, attacking from right to left.

England team: Robinson, G Neville, A Cole, Brown, Carragher, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Rooney, Owen, Wright-Phillips.

Welcome to Villa Park for tonight's friendly between England and Holland. Shaun Wright-Phillips has been handed his first England start in an attacking right-sided role. Wright-Phillips, who has previously made three substitute appearances, will play in the forward line with Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen in a 4-3-3 line-up. With six centre-backs out injured, Wes Brown will make his first England appearance in two years, partnering Jamie Carragher in central defence.

Neville has a chance to break up field and deliver a dangerous right-wing centre, but he gives away cheap possession, which results in a three on three breakaway, that ends with Kuijt testing Robinson with a sharp effort from the edge of the box.

The fourth official has indicated that there will be two minutes to time to be added on at the end of this second period.

And, neither keeper has had a save to make worthy of the name in this second period.

This second period has not been half as entertaining as the first, with both sides appearing to have settled for a draw for some time now.

Johnson does well on the right-hand touchline to spin away from his marker and deliver an accurate centre straight on to the head of Owen, but he cannot get enough power on his effort and Van der Sar easily claims.

Five minutes to go at Villa Park and it would be very surprising if either side were to score a goal now.

There is no doubt that Kuijt has been Holland's most dangerous player this evening, which is not too surprising for a man who is the top scorer in Eredivisie at present.

And, as he leaves the field, Beckham hands the captain's armband to his No2 Owen.

Eriksson takes off his skipper Beckham and Gerrard and replaces them in midfield with the Newcastle duo of Jenas and Dyer.

Downing takes a heavy tackle on his shin from van Bommel and is down receiving treatment, but he looks like he is OK.

England are about to introduce a couple more substitutes, although they are only going to get ten minutes of action.

Gerrard finds Johnson with an accurate pass, but his low centre is blocked and spins out for an England throw-in. Johnson appears wasted playing as a right winger.

But, the left-wing corner is overhit to the back post, where England are able to hack the ball away to safety through Neville.