Worldcup 1998 : Friendly Games - England 1 / Switzerland 1 , March 25, 1998.

SWITZERLAND 1 / ENGLAND 1, March 25, 1998.

Merson goal salvages draw for England

BERN, March 25, 98 (AP)

A goalkeeper's blunder enabled unimpressive England to scramble a 1-1 tie with Switzerland in a World Cup warm-up game Wednesday.

Joel Corminboeuf's mishit clearance went straight to Alan Shearer and the England captain set up an easy equalizer for Paul Merson in the 69th minute after Ramon Vega's first goal for Switzerland had put the home team ahead.

But for the keeper's mistake, Glenn Hoddle's World Cup-bound team would have lost for the second game in a row. Last month it went down 2-0 to Chile at Wembley and at the Wankdorf stadium it created few chances against a Swiss team who failed to qualify for the finals.

"In the second half we played a lot better," Hoddle said. "They played better in the first half. A draw was a fair result."

"The pitch was poor. They adapted better than us in the first half. In the second half, we were much more positive. If we'd started the game like that, I think we would have won it."

David Sesa went close to firing the Swiss ahead in the 12th minute when he collected a pass and turned to fire a 20-yard shot that shaved the left post with goalkeeper Tim Flowers beaten.

The Swiss, now under Gilbert Gress, their third coach in two years since the departure of Englishman Roy Hodgson, looked far more impressive that the World Cup qualifier and threatened a suspect England defense frequently in the first half.

Vega's goal came in the 37th minute after more Swiss pressure.

Ciriaco Sforza managed to get free in the center of the English defense and Rio Ferdinand had to rescue his team with a well timed tackle at the expense of a corner.

But England failed to clear the danger, Stephane Chapuisat curled the ball in with a left-footed cross from the right and Vega, who plays in England for Tottenham, guided it inside the far post with a glancing header. Flowers appeared to start his dive with the ball already in the back of the net.

Even with half of his original squad missing through injury, England coach Hoddle selected a puzzling lineup with Steve McManaman and Merson asked to play far deeper roles than they play for their clubs alongside Paul Ince and Robert Lee in midfield.

Merson came up with England's first shot in the 61st minute, flashing a 30-yard drive that flew just too high although goalkeeper Corminboeuf seemed to have it covered.

When Raphael Wicky miskicked a clearance, England had another chance seven minutes later. McManaman saw Corminboeuf way off his line but his long-range lob was far too high and cleared the crossbar with the 'keeper racing back.

Hoddle sent on experienced Teddy Sheringham for 18-year-old Michael Owen in the 68th minute but it an amazing blunder by Corminboeuf that gave England an ill-deserved equalizer.

The 'keeper's badly hit clearance struck Sheringham's foot and went straight to Shearer. With the Swiss defense moving upfield, England had three players to two defenders and Shearer passed to the unmarked Merson, who had plenty of time to fire it past Corminboeuf from 12 yards.

The Swiss made justified claims for a penalty when Martin Keown appeared to shove Chapuisat as the striker was about to shoot and then England goalkeeper Flowers made a good reflex-action save to beat out an angled, close range shot from the same striker.

England:
Tim Flowers, Martin Keown, Gareth Southgate, Rio Ferdinand, Andy Hinchcliffe, Steve McManaman, Robert Lee, Paul Ince, Paul Merson (sub: David Batty 80th), Alan Shearer, Michael Owen (TeddySheringham, 68)
Switzerland:
Joel Corminboeuf, Johann Vogel, Murat Yakin, Sebastien Fournier, Ramon Vega, Stephane Henchoz, Raphael Wicky (Johann Lonfat, 81), David Sesa (Adrian Kunz, 87), Marco Grassi, Ciriaco Sforza, Stephane Chapuisat