'Cos England's Dreeeeeeamin!!!

A hard fought one all draw against the USA in their opening group C match has left England boss Fabio Capello with more questions than answers about his best starting lineup. The Italian will also be cursing his luck as another central defender was ruled out with injury after Ledley King had to be withdrawn at half time.

The match itself in Rustenburg started so brightly for England and their adopted Italian disciplinarian. Naming a strong sounding 4-4-2 line up, Capello started with West Ham's Rob Green in goal, a back four of Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry and Ashley Cole and an attacking midfield of James Milner, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Aaron Lennon. Seeing Lampard and Gerrard together in midfield after all the heated debate about their lack of suitability seemingly rage on for some 6 years was a bit of a surprise, but Capello had little option in the absence of Gareth Barry. Up front, the much maligned Emile Heskey partnered the man England is expecting greatness from this summer, Wayne Rooney.

The greatness in the fourth minute though, came not from the spectacular Scouser, but from the selfless targetman Heskey as his perfect layoff found newly appointed captain Steven Gerrard and he purposefully raced into the box and beat the onrushing Tim Howard with the outside of his boot. As Gerrard sprinted off to the touchline in celebration, thousands of miles away in England, houses, pubs and parks erupted into scenes of joy and ecstasy (unless you were watching on High Definition).

Unfortunately for England, they failed to capitalise fully on their explosive start and the American soccer team grew in confidence as some England players struggled to find the form that gained them a place on the plane in the first place. Aston Villa's James Milner, coming off the most impressive season of his career, seemed to be a yard short all game and after being booked for a rash challenge, he was almost booked again after arriving late in the tackle and almost saw a red for it. Barely halfway through the first half he was substituted.

Such a decision is an example of the management Capello can perform, he is a man unafraid of bold substitutions if he feels his England side needs it. A far cry from some previous managers, who would have maybe given Milner more time and possibly seen the side down to 10 men with still 45 minutes to play. Shaun Wright-Phillips was given the opportunity to impress in his place giving the side a very attacking shape.

USA wingers Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan were utilising the space left by the forward thinking opposition and tucking inside where they could find themselves free because of the attack minded Gerrard and Lampard combination. Dempsey used that freedom behind England's midfield to find space, then lose the eventual tackle by Gerrard as he unleashed what was a pretty standard effort at goal.

Rob Green knelt on one knee to get behind the ball, but as the ball travelled towards him he somehow misjudged the flight of the 'roundest ball in history' and it snuck past his thumb and trickled into the net despite his desperate dive to prevent it. Another major tournament, another England goalkeeping howler...

The second half began without Ledley King, who could not continue due to injury and he was replaced by Jamie Carragher. The pacy American forwards had a real advantage now over Terry and Carragher, especially when the Liverpool man was almost instantaneously booked, leaving him unable to use his usual tactic for stopping pacy forwards of pulling their shirts and the like.

Despite the unwanted capitulation through error and injury, England controlled possession of the ball for the most part of the second half and a delicious through ball by Lennon was latched onto by Heskey but his powerful effort was smashed straight into the grateful Tim Howard in the American goal.

Rob Green made a character building save, and Peter Crouch was introduced but the second half rather fizzled out to end in a draw, it was a game that both sides could argue they deserved to win.

After Slovenia's victory, the side now go into Friday's game against Algeria really needing a win. I expect to see Rob Green given the start in this game to prove himself to the boss and to the nation. I also think we will see Gareth Barry back in centre midfield alongside Frank Lampard with Steven Gerrard pushed out to the left, and Jamie Carragher to start in place of the crocked King Ledley.

For it to be a successful winning game, England need to release Rooney, as he was coming far to deep against the US and therefore clogging the midfield. Also, we need to be much more clinical with our final ball. That means you, wingers!! Why don't you ask Becks to show you how it's done??

The unadventurous Algerians will park the bus, and will be hard to break down, but it's going to be a Friday night and I'm going to be cheering on the Three Lions in a battle against said bus. C'mon England!!

Ross Verbals

World Cup Opening Day Bonanza!!

After all the naysayers who doubted the capabilities of South Africa as a nation to hold an event with the magnitude of the World Cup, questions were asked about the stadia, transport and safety of fans in the Springbok state. Today was the day of reckoning, could it prove itself a suitable host? Could the South Africa football side, Bafana Bafana, the lowest ranked hosts of all time, even provide a challenge for their opponents Mexico in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup?

For a country that seems to always be tinged with travesty, it was almost predictable that what should have been a day for triumphant joy and celebration had to begin with the tragic news that Nelson Mandela's 13 year old granddaughter Zenani Mandela was killed in a road accident last night. To add to the sombre tone to the opening ceremony, Clive Tyldsley announced the opera singer Siphiwo Ntshebe, 34, who was supposed to sing during said ceremony was pronounced dead 3 weeks ago after a long fight with meningitis.

Once the show was on the road though it was all business, as R Kelly and a humanised dung beetle wowed the crowd with their R'n'B scuttling dance moves. We then cut to the players tunnel, as an all dancing and all singing South Africa starting 11 psyched themselves up for the biggest game in their countries history. After some stalling from FIFA president Sepp Blatter to address the crowd, the South African players finally gathered for a huddle around Steven Pienaar in a symbolic showing that the nations hopes depended on the talented Everton man's shoulders.

The game itself was a barnstormer, with Mexico starting brightly, getting in behind the South African full backs at ease and supplying crosses for the wasteful Guillermo Franco. Despite the backing of a partisan 90,000 crowd, South Africa seemed out of their depth as they struggled to deal with the pace and technical ability of the sprightly Mexicans. Despite the poor first half showing from the host nation, they went into half time goalless, a perfectly acceptable scoreline against the superior El Tri.

The second half sprung to life with the opening goal of the tournament, as a loose ball in the midfield area led to a one touch move from South Africa that culminated in Teko Modise's inch perfect through ball to Siphiwe Tshabalala. As the ball sat up for him, he struck the ball perfectly into the right hand top corner of the net to send the South African fans into rapture and the noise levels inside Soccer City from the blowing Vuvuzelas went into overdrive.

Unfortunately, the underdogs could not hold onto the goal advantage, when in the 79th minute Barcelona's Rafael Marquez was left unmarked from Guardado's cross and he finished with aplomb to silence the previously incessant South African fans.

In injury time, a League Two style route one move cut open the surprised Mexican defence as South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, whose distribution was rapid all game, released Katlego Mphela with one long ball. The striker raced through but was denied by the foot of the post as I fell to the floor with my friend Tom in animated anguish.

I love the world Cup and this match reminded me why. There were two sides competing who I don't really care for, but with the unfolding drama in a World Cup match I fell into the trap of supporting the host nation as Bafana Bafana attempted to defy the odds and come away with 3 points against the much fancied Mexicans.

However, the less said about the evening game between Uruguay and France in a boring goalless draw the better. The only thing I will say is that it is right up there with Romania versus France in Euro 2008 for incredibly dull international matches. Thank you Raymond Domenech for taking a super power in world football like France and turning them into a disjointed sham of a team. (Cue World Cup win)

Player of the day: Mexico's goalkeeper Oscar Perez.


At 37 years old and at just 5'8 feet tall Perez entertained me more than any other today with his insistence to stand at least 10 yards off his line at all times, rushing out of his area to head the ball, and his general inability to catch a football. All of this whilst looking remarkably like Omid Djalili.... man of the touranment, hands Down!!! (Naturally)