Frank Lampard won his 100th England cap on Tuesday night, helping his country to a potentially vital draw away to Ukraine.
Joining Lampard in the England line-up were defenders Gary Cahill and Ashley Cole, with Cahill in particular impressing in central defence, as both players made timly interceptions to preserve England’s clean sheet.
The headlines though will belong to Lampard, who became the eighth player to reach 100 England caps, and the midfielder, who had a relatively quiet evening, almost headed a winner in injury time at the end of a tight but fiercely contested encounter. The draw leaves England top of Group H with two games remaining.
Elsewhere in World Cup qualifying, goalkeeper Petr Cech was in action for Czech Republic, seeing his side take the lead against Italy in Turin before a quickfire double from Giorgio Chiellini and Mario Balotelli condemned them to a 2-1 defeat, as the Italians booked their place in Brazil alongside Holland, who were also victorious on the night. It leaves the Czechs in fourth, four points adrift of second-placed Bulgaria in Group B, with Denmark also three points ahead.
Branislav Ivanovic’s Serbia were 3-0 winners away to Wales in Cardiff, with the Chelsea man captaining his country to victory, although with Belgium, who did not have a fixture this evening, and Croatia so far ahead, they will not qualify for next summer’s tournament.
Andre Schurrle played the final 15 minutes as a substitute in Germany’s 3-0 win away to the Faroe Islands, which leaves them needing a win from their final two games to guarantee qualification.
In an Under-21 UEFA European Championship qualifier, Andreas Christensen completed 90 minutes at the back for Denmark in their 2-2 draw away to Slovenia. The Danes are in second place in their group after three games.
Neither John Mikel Obi or on-loan Victor Moses figured in Nigeria’s friendly victory against Burkina Faso.