2010 World Cup: Green spill gifts USA a point against England

Blackleaf

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Oct 9, 2004
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England and the United States met each other last night in the World Cup, the first time the two teams have met in this competition for 60 years.

With all the sickening anti-Britishness coming out of the United States in recent weeks over the oil spill and Americans wrongly referring to the oil giant as "British Petroleum", it would have been nice for England to give the US a good stuffing in the match yesterday, say a Rooney hat-trick helping England to a 5-0 victory.

That win didn't happen but because 68% of Americans somehow believed that the USA would win this match, and therefore overestimating the ability of the USA team and underestimating that of an England team ranked 8th in the world which is one of just four or five teams capable of winning this World Cup, a draw is nice enough.

The United States were lucky to get a share of the points. Their equalising goal came five minutes to the end of the first half when Clint Dempsey, who plays in the English Premier League for Fulham, let fly an optimistic shot on goal. England's goalkeeper, Robert Green, looked to have it covered, getting down on one knee to scoop up the ball. However, the ball bounced off his gloves and rolled into the net, with Green helplessly looking on. It wasn't the first gaffe committed by an England goalkeeper in recent years, and Joe Hart will probably replace Green in goal for England's next game against Algeria on Friday.

All this occurred after a flying start by England, when stand-in captain Steven Gerrard, who took over the armband when captain Rio Ferdinand was ruled out of the World Cup when he injured himself in training just the day after England arrived in South Africa, scored a sublime goal after just four minutes. That's the fastest goal scored at this World Cup so far.

But, thanks to Green's shocker, the USA somehow escaped with a point, but England will be confident of getting the maximum six points from their next two games against Algeria and Slovenia. Slovenia beat Algeria 1-0 earlier today, but there was nothing on show from either side which will get England, and maybe the USA, worried.

The England and USA players were also on very familiar terms with each other, because 7 of the USA's starting line-up last night either are playing, or have played, in the English league.




2010 World Cup, Group C

England 1-1 USA
Gerrard 4....................................Dempsey 40

At the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
Attendance: 44,026

England: Green, Johnson, Cole, Terry, King, Gerrard, Lennon, Lampard, Milner, Rooney, Heskey.

Subs: Carragher (for King), 46 mins. Wright-Phillips (for Milner), 30 mins. Crouch (for Heskey), 79 mins.

USA: Howard, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo, DeMerit, Bradley, Dempsey, Clark, Donovan, Altidore, Findley.

Subs: Holden (for Altidore), 86 mins. Buddle (for Findley), 77 mins.


Group C standings

.............................P.....W.....D.....L.....F.....A.....points
Slovenia.............1.......1......0.....0.....1.....0.........3
England..............1.......0......1.....0.....1.....1.........1
USA.....................1.......0......1.....0.....1.....1.........1
Algeria................1......0.......0.....1.....0.....1.........0

The other Group C result: Algeria 0-1 Slovenia

Next:
England VS Algeria
USA VS Slovenia
(Friday 18th June)


Disaster: Green watches as the ball rolls over the England goal line


Unmovable force: Wayne Rooney singlehandedly holds off the the challenges of two USA players

Goalkeeper Robert Green suffered a World Cup nightmare as England were forced to settle for a disappointing draw in the opening game of their campaign against the United States.

Steven Gerrard gave coach Fabio Capello the perfect start to this South African mission when he slid Emile Heskey's pass beyond Tim Howard after only four minutes.

And while England rarely hit the heights, they were maintaining their advantage in relative comfort until five minutes before half-time when West Ham United's Green suffered the lapse that will haunt him.

Clint Dempsey offered an effort that was little more than pot luck from 25 yards, but Green hopelessly allowed the ball to squeeze through him and roll agonisingly over the line as he tried to recover.


Perfect start: England captain Steven Gerrard gets his side off to an emphatic start with this fourth minute strike


Captain marvel: Steven Gerrard wheels away in delight at scoring the opening goal of Group C for England

England had opportunities to repair the damage, but Heskey once again illustrated his limitations in front of goal by shooting straight at Howard with only the keeper to beat.

Wayne Rooney, subdued for the most part, shot just wide, while substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips, on for the under-par Milner after only 30 minutes, saw his angled drive saved by Howard.

World Cup Fact

South Africa is both rugby mad and football mad. White South Africans go crazy for rugby, whilst black South Africans are mad about football. England is also a very popular team in South Africa, with most South Africa fans supporting England as their second team.

Capello will also have enjoyed finer nights in his illustrious career as his major decisions backfired. Green got the nod in goal but must now fear for his place against Algeria, while Milner looked far from fit following a virus after his surprise selection.

And Ledley King, whose fitness was the subject of so much debate when Capello named his squad, lasted only 45 minutes after suffering a groin injury.


England XI: Fabio Capello's starting line up pose for a pre-match photograph

USA XI: England's Group C opponents together ahead of kick off

It exposed a glaring lack of pace in England's central defence, which was almost punished when Jozy Altidore raced past Jamie Carragher with embarrassing ease only for Green to apply some repairs to his shattered reputation by turning his shot on to the post.

England have plenty of time to regroup and progress, but this was an unsatisfactory night for Capello and his players.

Capello, unconvinced about David James' fitness, chose Green ahead of the inexperienced Joe Hart - on the surface a sensible decision but ultimately a costly one.


Where's that dragon? An England fan dressed as St George just after arriving in South Africa last week.

England's first-half performance was undistinguished, failing to build on Gerrard's fourth minute goal.

Frank Lampard's pass was out of Rooney's reach, but Heskey played in Gerrard to score with the outside of his right foot.

World Cup Fact

Two-time World Cup winners Argentina may have got off to a great start to this tournament, beating Nigeria 1-0 yesterday, but they have never won a World Cup in which the mascot has not worn a hat. The mascot for this World Cup, Zakumi, does not wear one.

The United States were allowed the luxury of plenty of possession, and England almost paid for their generosity when Landon Donovan's inviting cross was headed tamely wide by Altidore.

Milner, given his chance despite being laid low by illness in midweek, was off the pace and picked up a booking for fouling Steve Cherundolo before being replaced by Wright-Phillips on the half-hour.

Safe hands? Robert Green appears to have the situation under control as the ball trickles in his direction


Desperate lunge: Robert Green is helpless to retrieve the ball before it crosses the line


Horror show: Robert Green despairs after his howling error allowed Clint Dempsey's tame effort to level the scores


Chin up: Robert Green is consoled by England goalkeeping trio David James, Joe Hart and Ray Clemence at the break

England at least looked like holding their lead until the interval, before a moment of complete calamity engulfed Green. Dempsey's left-foot shot from 25 yards barely merited the label of speculative, but every aspect of Green's technique collapsed as he allowed the ball to squirm through his grasp and over the line.

The best quote of the 2010 World Cup so far

"Let there really be fair play, let the referees understand what the words fair play mean," said Argentina manager Diego "Hand of God" Maradona. England fans will be wondering when the pot is again going to call the kettle black.

To add to England's troubles, King failed to emerge after the break, being replaced by Carragher as Capello was forced into another change to his initial plans.


Unshaken: John Terry willingly puts his head in a precarious position under a high challenge from Jozy Altidore


Credit crunch: Emile Heskey's desperate attempt to win the ball leaves USA goalkeeper Tim Howard writhing in pain

Heskey, having done so well to create Gerrard's goal, then demonstrated his lack of confidence in front of goal when he wasted a clear chance to restore England's lead after 52 minutes. Aaron Lennon put the striker through, but he never looked convincing and shot straight at Howard.

England, however, were not looking comfortable and Altidore illustrated the lack of pace at the back to give them a real scare in the 64th minute. He outpaced Carragher in comfort, but Green made some amends for his earlier mistake by turning his angled shot on to the post.


Facing up: Emile Heskey is sandwiched between Michael Bradley and Jay DeMerit


Patch work: Glen Johnson pleads to return to the action with a hastily improvised solution to a bleeding lip


Swap shop: both goalscorers Clint Dempsey and Steven Gerrard exchange shirts at the conclusion of a hard fought 1-1 draw

Rooney had been relatively quiet, but almost surprised Howard with a snapshot from long-range that flew just wide. He then set up Wright-Phillips, but his effort was too close to Howard.

England then ran out of ideas as they tired - leaving Bob Bradley's US side to celebrate a hard-earned point.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport
 
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