The 1-1 draw against USA is hardly the end of the world as some people have been making out. It does however, put pressure on the side to perform and get the right results in their remaining two games, especially after Slovenia picked up a win against Algeria. Anything other than a win in those games now, and we could be struggling to even make the second round.
When I saw the starting lineup, I was surprised to see James Milner in there, especially seen as he had been reported as being ill in the days leading up to the match. I expected - and hoped - that Joe Cole would get the nod instead. In goal, Robert Green would not have been my choice either, I just don’t think that he is an international class goalkeeper, but if David James was unfit, then I can understand why Capello selected him ahead of the inexperienced Joe Hart. Other than that, it was a lineup that I very much expected, and one that I though was right to play against the Americans. Capello gained a bit of criticism for selecting Emile Heskey, although as I had previously said, I thought that he was the right man to go up against the USA’s big defenders. Oguchi Onyewu is a big strong defender and I felt that had Rooney had been up top on his own, or even with Crouch then he would have dominated. Putting Heskey up top to almost deal with the defender would at least free up Rooney to do what he does best in and around the US backline.
We started brightly, with Heskey laying off beautifully for Steven Gerrard to slot past Tim Howard in goal. After going one up though, we never really controlled the ball and kept possession for large periods of time which we should have done. Instead playing silly passes that were easily intercepted. James Milner looked off the pace from the start and was booked for a reckless challenge on Steve Cherundolo, his third foul on the full back after just 26 minutes. He was substituted shortly after and replaced with Shaun Wright-Phillips. I was disappointed with the replacement, I felt that Joe Cole would have been a better choice on the left wing, a position that he has played - and well - many times before for England. Whenever Wright-Phillips got the ball down the left, he had to cut in onto his right foot before delivering into the box and I thought that he and Ashley Cole both had poor games. He did have one great chance to score, but where a left footer would have placed the ball into the far corner, Wright-Phillips used his right, merely passing the ball to the goalkeeper.
Going forward we did look dangerous, with Glen Johnson bursting forward whenever possible to support the explosive Aaron Lennon. Lennon again showed what a dangerous weapon his pace can be, often getting around the fullback and to the byline. As is too often with England though, the final ball was lacking. In the centre of the pitch, I felt that Frank Lampard was anonymous for large periods of the game, not showing the form that he does for Chelsea. His partner in the centre Steven Gerrard had a good game, looking as fired up as he has been in an England shirt for a long while. His opening goal was followed up by some excellent defensive work, although he could have done better in stopping Clint Dempsey getting his shot off in what resulted in the equaliser. Emile Heskey is another player that I felt had a good game, holding the ball up well before laying it off with accuracy. The one reason a striker is on the pitch though, is to score goals. When he was played clean through by an excellent through ball by Lennon, I was never confident of him scoring and although he struck the ball cleanly, it was straight at Tim Howard.
Defensive frailties once again shone through, as we never looked confident when dealing with high balls into the box and rarely getting close enough to the USA players when winding up for a shot or spraying the ball out wide. This was epitomised when Landon Donovan shot inches wide from long range and that weak shot by Clint Dempsey that somehow found it’s way into the back of the net. Robert Green went for the ball with his hands but didn’t put enough of his body behind the ball, as it slipped off his gloves and rolled into the net. A massive mistake by Green in a massive match. Jamie Carragher - Ledley King’s replacement at half time - showed his lack of pace and physical strength on this stage now as he was turned with ease by Jozy Altidore before Green saved the day with an excellent save at his near post. With Ledley King possibly now out for the rest of the tournament, it is worrying to think that our next best defender was turned so easily, and now also on a yellow card after making sure Altidore’s strike partner Robbie Findley couldn’t perform the same move on him.
All in all I think England played quite well, and a 1-1 draw against a side that made it to the Confederations Cup Final last year is not a bad result. The pressure is now on though, as the next two games really must be won.
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