The Tottenham playmaker reflects on a classic encounter in 2009 between England and Holland in which 4 goals were scored, Defoe emerging from the bench to rescue the game for England from the brink of defeat. The Spurs star also reflects on playing for an exciting Tottenham team this year. —- Jermain Defoe struck twice as England came from two goals down at the interval against the Netherlands to earn a creditable draw in Amsterdam. Dirk Kuyt and Rafael Van der Vaart punished errors by Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Barry to give the Dutch control. But Defoe came off the bench to race clear and pull a goal back after 49 minutes to give England hope. And he steered in a cross from fellow substitute James Milner with 13 minutes left as England finished strongly. England coach Fabio Capello will have mixed feelings about the performance of his side – and will demand the basic errors that cost two goals be eradicated as the build up continues towards what he hopes will be a serious World Cup challenge in South Africa next summer. But he will be delighted by the spirit shown as England fought their way back into contention with Defoe as the spearhead, helped by impressive cameos from two other substitutes in Carlton Cole and Milner. England’s hopes of a morale-boosting result were undermined by a dreadful error from Ferdinand that gifted the Dutch an early goal. Ferdinand’s attempted backpass was desperately casual and fell well short of Robert Green, allowing Kuyt to round the …
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