The Last Crusade: England v Costa Rica, Elland Road, Leeds

Thursday 7 June 2018

England v Costa Rica, Elland Road, Leeds

England v Costa Rica
Friendly
Elland Road, Leeds
ENGLAND
8 JUNE 2018

Gareth Southgate made 10 changes to the team that beat Nigeria at Wembley 5 days ago. He gave the 2nd and 3rd keepers, Jack Butland and Nick Pope a run out and both gave an assured performance. In the outfield it was a high intensity 1st half performance from England that was ignited by a stunning strike from Marcus Rashford on13th minutes. The Manchester United forward struck a dipping shot from outside of the penalty area to beat the Real Madrid and Costa Rican stopper Keylor Navas. The remainder of the half was strewn with sharp passing throughout, good movement and with Jordan Henderson at the helm they managed the game very well, limiting the Costa Ricans to just a few scraps. In the 2nd Half the manager made a few changes and the fluency was stifled a bit, but once they reset themselves England took the initiative once more. The second goal came from a quick move down the left with Deli Alli on the ball who then fired a cross (or was it a shot) across the six yard area for Danny Welbeck to convert with a diving header on 76 minutes. Goooooal!2:0 to the England.

The match was a sell out but loads of empty seats were scattered about, but still the atmosphere was one of the best that I had witnessed at an England home game and light years ahead of the sedate atmosphere at Wembley. All of the old songs were being belted out, classics such as 'Football's coming home' and 'Vindaloo' echoed around the stadium and made the odd 'MOT' and 'Yorkshire, Yorkshire' almost bearable. If Wembley does get sold off and England take the show on the road I don't think many England fans will complain such was the difference in the noise levels and general fervour for the national team.

Pano from behind the goal in the South Stand

England 2 Costa Rica 0
Attendance: 36104

Elland Road (South) Stand

Billy Bremner, the inspirational
Captain of the Great Don Revie team

Billy's back

Leeds United's Superstore

Don Revie

The Hesco (East) Stand

North East Corner of the East Stand

NE Corner

Celebrating the Great Gaffers
(Revie, Wilkinson, O'Leary and Grayson)

The Revie (North) Stand

John Charles (West) Stand; the corner above is usually reserved for Away fans

Dockside at Leeds Dock

The Royal Armouries

Crown Point Bridge on the
Leeds Liverpool Canal and River Aire

Hotel ibis Budget on Crown Point Rd

View from my digs

Kirgate Market

First pint of Leeds Pale Ale in The Ship Inn on Briggate

A nice pint if I say so mesen

Next stop is Whitlock's Alehouse or is it the Turk's Head

Love and old boozer

Minerva: the draped woman on Briggate

Main pre match pub is the Scarborough Hotel,
known locally as the 'Scarborough Taps'

Sir Thomas Truman of the FA

Atmosphere is building

Flags in the South Stand

The Huge East Stand to the right is known as the Hesco Stand after the Yorkshire company 'Hesco Bastion' which produces defence products. Another famous fortress is also named after the company (Camp Bastion, Afghanistan)!

The Hesco Stand

The John Charles Stand is to the left and is
normally home to the away support

Pano as the sun goes down

Smug look as the 2nd goal goes in

Day 2 - Walk through Leeds

Location of the Post Match party was at 'The Black Prince' in City Square last night.

The real Black Prince is the son of Edward III and had a fierce reputation during the struggle with France in the 1300's. The statue was unveiled to the Leeds public in 1903 much to the amazement of the crowd, as a he has no connection to Leeds whatsoever!