Robbie Williams' England side beat a team of Hollywood A-listers and football legends 3-1 at Manchester's Old Trafford.
Robbie Williams' England side beat a team of Hollywood A-listers and football legends 3-1 in the fourth Soccer Aid at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium. Two teams of celebrities, including Hollywood actors Will Ferrell, Edward Norton and Michael Sheen, clashed in tonight's game which raised more than #4 million for Unicef.
The Soccer Aid event saw an England side, led by Take That's Williams, take on a Rest of the World team. Before tonight's game Soccer Aid had raised more than of #6.5 million through ticket sales and donations, with all profits going to Unicef's work helping children across the world. Today the Government pledged to match all the cash raised through donations.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said: "The huge public response to the Soccer Aid appeal shows that those watching tonight's game are united not only by a love of football but by a fantastic generosity of spirit. "We will reflect that spirit by matching pound for pound from our existing aid budget all public donations, helping Unicef reach hundreds of thousands more children in east and west Africa."
Players on the England team included comedians John Bishop and Paddy McGuinness, singers Olly Murs and Mark Owen, with Robbie Williams as team captain. They were joined by former footballers including Graeme Le Saux, Martin Keown, Kevin Phillips, David Seaman, Teddy Sheringham and Des Walker. Sam Allardyce managed the team.
Playing for the Rest of the World were actor Gerard Butler, former boxer Joe Calzaghe and Hollywood superstars Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, James McAvoy, Ed Norton and Mike Myers. Also playing was chef Gordon Ramsay with star of stage and screen Michael Sheen as captain. They were joined by football legends Hernan Crespo, Roy Keane, Clarence Seedorf, Jaap Stam, Edwin Van Der Sar and Freddie Ljungberg. Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish took charge of the team.
The first half came to an end with the Rest of the World team 1-0 up, thanks to a goal from Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno. The musician got on to the end of a pass from former Arsenal player Freddie Ljungberg and chipped the ball over David Seaman in the England goal.
In the second half Chef Gordon Ramsay was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after a late challenge from former England international Teddy Sheringham.
Shortly afterwards Sheringham deflected a Graeme Le Saux shot into the back of the net to equalise for England. Then, just minutes later, Jonathan Wilkes put England 2-1 up.
Kevin Phillips rounded off the game with a goal in the 89th minute to seal a 3-1 win for England.