Match No. 738 - Wednesday, 10th September 1997, 8:00pm
- Assist: David Beckham. "Denis Romanenco punched Beckham's corner from the left straight back to him and from Beckham's second cross Scholes moved in sharply towards the near post to direct a firm header into the far corner of the net." Paul Scholes2nd of 14 goals. Header from 9 yards., 29' 28:38
- Assist: Paul Gascoigne. "In the opening minute of the second half Gascoigne's control and vision again proved too much for the Moldova defence and this time his efforts were not wasted. He placed a precise pass on to Wright's left foot and the Arsenal man's goal-scoring instincts did the rest." Ian Wright8th of 9 goals. Left-footed from 10 yards., 46' 45:50
- Assist: Ian Wright. "Then, with 10 minutes left, Gascoigne accepted Wright's return pass to score a goal his performance deserved..." Paul Gascoigne10th of 10 goals. Right-footed from 13 yards., 81' 80:05
- Assist: Stan Collymore. "...Collymore, who had replaced Ferdinand, sent in Wright to complete England's victory and set up that momentous encounter in Rome." Ian Wright9th of 9 goals. Right-footed from 19 yards., 90' 89:50
- 1
- David SeamanArsenal, 37th of 75 caps
33 years, 11 month, 21 day
Goalkeeper (c)1st captaincy
- 2
- Gary NevilleMan Utd, 23rd of 85 caps
22 years, 6 months, 20 days
Right Back
- 3
- Phil NevilleMan Utd, 7th of 59 caps
20 years, 7 months, 20 days
Left Back
- 4
- David BattyNewcastle Utd, 26th of 42 caps
28 years, 9 months, 8 days
Midfield
- 5
- Sol CampbellSpurs, 10th of 73 caps
22 years, 11 month, 22 days
Centre Back 81:46 Tackle from behind on Miterev.
- 6
- Gareth SouthgateAston Villa, 20th of 57 caps
27 years, 0 months, 7 days
Centre Back
- 7
- David BeckhamMan Utd, 10th of 115 caps
22 years, 4 months, 8 days
Right Midfield - '6867:32
- 8
- Paul GascoigneRangers, 52nd of 57 caps
30 years, 3 months, 14 days
Midfield
- 9
- Les FerdinandSpurs, 14th of 17 caps
30 years, 9 months, 2 days
Centre Forward - '8382:08
- 10
- Ian WrightArsenal, 28th of 33 caps
33 years, 10 months, 7 days
Centre Forward
- 11
- Paul ScholesMan Utd, 4th of 66 caps
22 years, 9 months, 24 days
Left Midfield
- 17
- Stuart RipleyBlackburn, 2nd of 2 caps
29 years, 9 months, 20 days
Right Midfield - '6867:32 '7675:58
- 16
- Nicky ButtMan Utd, 3rd of 39 caps
22 years, 7 months, 20 days
Right Midfield - '7675:58
- 18
- Stan CollymoreAston Villa, 3rd of 3 caps
26 years, 7 months, 19 days
Centre Forward - '8382:08
- 1
- Denis RomanencoDenis Romanenco.
Born 18th Nov 1974, Chisinau.
- 2
- Oleg FisticanOleg Fistican.
Born 1st Feb 1975, Chisinau.
- 3
- Ion TestemićanuIon Testemićanu.
Born 27th Apr 1974, Chisinau.
- 4
- Vitalie CulibabaVitalie Culibaba.
Born 26th Jan 1971.
- '5352:42
- 5
- Marin SpânuMarin Spânu.
Born 18th Nov 1973, Moldova.
69:03 Trip on Phil Neville.
- 6
- Serghei StroencoSerghei Stroenco.
Born 22nd Feb 1967.
- 7
- Alexandru CurteianAlexandru Curteian.
Born 11th Feb 1974, Chisinau.
(c) 8:45 Bringing down Beckham.
- 8
- Oleg ȘișchinOleg Șișchin.
Born 7th Jan 1975, Chisinau.
- '6261:08
- 9
- Iurie MiterevIurie Miterev.
Born 28th Feb 1975, Chisinau.
- 10
- Radu RebejaRadu Rebeja.
Born 8th Jun 1973, Chisinau.
- 11
- Serghei RogaciovSerghei Ivanovich Rogaciov.
Born 20th May 1977, Glodeni.
- '7776:05
- 14
- Alexandru SuharevAlexandru Suharev.
Born 3rd Jul 1970, Balta.
- '5352:42
- 13
- Alexandru PopoviciAlexandru Popovici.
Born 9th Apr 1977, Tiraspol.
- '6261:08
- 17
- Boris CebotariBoris Cebotari.
Born 3rd Feb 1975, Sarateni.
- '7776:05
Notes
- Playing the Moldovans at tennisComedian Tony Hawks wrote a book about challenging this Moldovan starting XI to a game of tennis.
- Player Injury"...the unlucky Ripley strained a hamstring [74:03], which allowed...Nicky Butt, a part in the proceedings."
- Player MilestoneStuart Ripley's Last Cap
- Player MilestoneStan Collymore's Last Cap
- Goal MilestonePaul Gascoigne's 10th Goal
Sources
- Wembley - The Complete Record 1923 - 2000 by Glen Isherwood (Sports Books 2006)
- YouTube
- The Guardian "Gascoigne lights up the night", Thursday 11th September 1997, page 26.
- Telegraph "Gascoigne sets England on road to Rome", Thursaday 11th September 1997, page 48.
- ESPN
Referee
- Sweden Karl-Erik Nilsson
ELO Ratings
- No change in rank, gaining 2 ranking points to 1996 points England - 5th
- Moldova - 99th
World Cup 1998 Q
(Group 2)
- England
- 19
- +13
- 1
- 1
- 6
- 8
- Italy
- 18
- +10
- 0
- 3
- 5
- 8
- Poland
- 10
- -2
- 4
- 1
- 3
- 8
- Georgia
- 10
- -2
- 4
- 1
- 3
- 8
- Moldova
- 0
- -19
- 8
- 0
- 0
- 8