Green goof, England red
England’s World Cup campaign got off to a disappointing start on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by outsiders US in the opening game of Group C.
England began briskly, with captain Steven Gerrard putting them ahead after just 4 minutes, but a goalkeeping blunder allowed Clint Dempsey to grab a 40th minute equaliser for the US.
Goalkeeping woes have plagued the English squad in recent years and it was no exception on Saturday when manager Fabio Capello selected West Ham’s Robert Green in place of David James.
Green appeared to have a harmless looking long-distance shot from Dempsey safely under control, but the ball somehow managed to squirm out of his hands and roll over the line.
Gerrard described the goal as “one of these freak things,” and said England was firmly behind their goalkeeper. England failed to live up to their role as favourites.
Frank Lampard worked the ball across to veteran striker Emile Heskey, who justified his place in the line-up with an intelligent pass to Gerrard, who right-footed the ball home from near the penalty spot.
The US side slowly recovered from the shock and gradually came back into the game, forcing a series of corners without breaking through England’s defensive line.
US striker Jozy Altidore, at 20 the youngest player on the pitch, went close in the 19th minute when he rose to meet a cross from midfielder Landon Donovan but headed the ball just wide of the post. A minute later Aaron Lennon bore down on Tim Howard’s goal but the Tottenham Hotspur winger opted to pass the ball instead of taking a shot the US were able to clear.
Wayne Rooney, who worked tirelessly throughout the match, went close early in the second half, but the referee adjudged the effort to be offside.
Howard tipped a blistering shot from Lampard over the bar and Glen Johnson fired wide from close range from the resulting corner.
The US goalkeeper was further in action, stopping shots from Rooney and Wright-Phillips as England began to pile on the pressure in the final 15 minutes. Howard was later named man-of-the-match. — DPA
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