England held 2-2 by spunky Swiss

WEMBLEY, England (AP):

England's wretched defending gifted Switzerland a 2-2 draw in their 2012 European Championship qualifier yesterday.

Tranquillo Barnetta scored a rapid first-half double. His first free kick curled over Rio Ferdinand and bounced before wrongfooting goalkeeper Joe Hart after 32 minutes. A second free kick three minutes later went through England's defensive wall and beat Hart at his near post.

Frank Lampard pulled one back from the penalty spot for England in the 37th minute and substitute Ashley Young levelled with a powerful strike six minutes into the second half.

"I was disappointed for the goals that they scored, not for the first one but for the second because the wall needed to stay tight and not move," manager Fabio Capello said. "The Switzerland players were fresher, they have had a different season. We suffered because we arrived without energy."

The draw took England a point clear of Montenegro in Group G. Switzerland are third with five points.

With three games to go and only the top team guaranteed a spot at Euro 2012, the dropped points mean it is far from certain that England will qualify.

The draw reminded Capello of his team's shortcomings a year after England's bleak World Cup campaign, which led to several changes of personnel in the squad.

Despite a vibrant win in their previous qualifier, against Wales in March, Capello made three changes from the side that won 2-0 in Cardiff.

Wayne Rooney was replaced by Theo Walcott and Rio Ferdinand returned from injury to partner captain John Terry in central defence.

The surprise was Capello's decision to drop Young in favour of James Milner on the left flank. He introduced the Aston Villa winger only at halftime, in place of Lampard, but believes he is a more potent attacking force from central midfield.

Sacrificed

Lampard was sacrificed after struggling in the midfield axis with Jack Wilshere and Scott Parker.

The match came alive in a five-minute spell after Johnson conceded a free kick. Barnetta's free kick was able to float over Ferdinand and the ball bounced between Granit Xhaka and Johan Djourou before going into Hart's net.

England's disorganised defence had little time to recover before Hart committed a glaring error at the end of a season when he had established himself as the first-choice keeper for both Manchester City and England.

As the free kick delivered from the left flank pierced England's two-man wall of Walcott and Milner before bouncing inside Hart's near post, his boot helped the ball over the line.

There was a lifeline for England a minute later when Djourou brought down Wilshere and Lampard scored from the spot.