The Uefa U21 European Championship qualifier against Greece at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster on Wednesday March 3, 2010.
England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce's hopes of leading his country to the 2011 European Championship in Denmark suffered a major setback as his overly negative tactics backfired.
Pearce saw his team outclassed by Greece who struck either half-time after taking advantage of the former England international's defensive inclinations at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium.
Debutant Nathan Delfouneso gave his team hope with a late goal but a desperate performance in a game billed as “crucial” by Football Association director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking ensured that England's fate is no longer in their own hands.
The Greeks seized the initiative to show why they are setting the pace in Group Nine as they outplayed their hosts with left-winger Vasileios Koutsianikoulis outstanding with dazzling footwork.
England, though, proved to be their own worst enemies as Pearce invited trouble with his cautious line-up with Fabrice Muamba stationed in front of the defence leaving Jack Rodwell to inspire alongside the combative Lee Cattermole.
As well as leaving striker Andy Carroll isolated, Rodwell had too much to do against tidy opponents and it took a fine Scott Loach save to deny Giannis Papadopoulos when he took aim from 22 yards midway through the first half.
Greece deservedly took the lead six minutes later following Papadopoulos's corner that saw Ryan Bertrand clear off the line when Papastathopoulos rose above the defence before Genoa centre-half Kyriakos Papadopoulos thumped the ball home.
Ironically, that invigorated England and Tom Cleverley's shot was deflected just over before Cattermole twice tested Asterious Giakoumis.
It proved to be a temporary shift of power. Greece regained the upper hand thanks to superior technique and movement and Loach again came to the rescue by pushing away right-back Argyriou's angled drive.
Pearce neglected to make half-time changes and paid the price for prudence in the 48th minute. Koutsianikoulis burst forward only to be dispossessed by Cattermole but while Smalling waited for Loach to tidy up, Giannis Papadopoulos nipped in to slide home.
Delfouneso raised comeback hopes in the 79th minute with a close-range finish after Giakoumis failed to hold Kyle Walker's rasping shot as Pearce tasted defeat in a competitive home fixture for the first time.
Match details
England (4-1-4-1): Loach (Watford); Walker (Tottenham), Richards (Man City), Smalling (Fulham), Bertrand (Reading on loan from Chelsea); Muamba (Bolton); Wilshere (Bolton, loan from Arsenal), Cattermole (Sunderland), Rodwell (Everton), Cleverley (Watford loan from Man Utd); Carroll (Newcastle).
Subs: Sturridge (Chelsea) for Muamba 54; Delfouneso (Villa) for Smalling 74, Gosling (Everton) for Cleverley (87).
Subs not used: Fielding (Blackburn, g), Tomkins (West Ham), Mancienne (Wolves, loan from Chelsea), Delph (Aston Villa), Delfouneso (Villa).
Greece (4-5-1): Giakoumis; Argyriou, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Papastathopoulos, Skondras; Dimoutsos, Siovas, Giannis Papadopoulos, Giantsis, Koutsianikoulis; Mitroglou.
Subs: Katsikogiannis for Koutsianikoulis 62, Athanassis Papazoglou for Mitroglou 72, Gentsoglou for Giantsis 78.
Subs not used: Stratilatis (g), Tasos Papazoglou, Apostolopoulos, Soiledis.
Booked: Argyriou.
Referee: M Strahonja (Croatia).
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