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Point made

Image: Mullery: would pick Oxlade-Chamberlain to face Sweden on Friday

Alan Mullery says England can take real confidence from their 1-1 Euro 2012 draw against France.

Parker in particular did us proud, says Mullery

England can take real confidence from their 1-1 Euro 2012 draw with France in Donetsk, according to former boss Alan Mullery. Defender Joleon Lescott nodded in a Steven Gerrard free-kick to give England a first-half lead only for Samir Nasri to beat Joe Hart at his near post with a low drive nine minutes later. Despite failing to build on their advantage, Mullery told Sky Sports News HD that he was impressed with the way Roy Hodgson's men went about their job. "It wasn't what you would call an outstanding performance from England; they defended extremely well - the way they did against Norway, the way they did against Belgium," he reflected. "They did exactly the same. We scored one goal but we conceded one today, which was a little bit of bad luck on Joe Hart's part. "So we've only had one goal in three games against us. We've played a team that is now 22 games undefeated and we've competed and defended very, very well. "Scott Parker was superb; he throws his body in the way, he chases people down, he's knocking balls here, there and everywhere. He and Steven Gerrard worked hard in the middle of the park, but Parker was outstanding. "Danny Welbeck worked really hard up front on his own. We probably needed a little bit more from Ashley Young - we never saw him a great deal - but defensively John Terry, Lescott and all the back four looked very, very good. Joe Hart at times looked a little bit dodgy but he's better than that."

Qualify

England's next match is on Friday against Sweden - a team that until last November's friendly, which ended in a 1-0 victory, they hadn't beaten since May 1968. "We haven't been particularly good against the Swedes," admitted Mullery. "But that result will do us good today. We can now push on again. We've played probably the best side in our group and we've achieved what we set out to achieve. "Come Friday we might have one or two players who are a bit leggy and Hodgson may change the side but if I was him I'd say 'no, the side did the job today'. "We need a little bit more up front, I think, against Sweden so we can score goals up there and I think that if we can beat Sweden I think we'll qualify. "I'd pick Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain again. I'd play him on Friday. You've got to go away from this result with confidence. "We didn't have too many chances but we got a point; it's better than the Dutch. They lost their game even though they had magnificent chances."

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