Dave's random mumblings…

South Africa opened the World Cup with a great goal; England opened theirs with an utterly unbelievable goalkeeping blunder. It was a widely held belief among England fans that the keeper was not one of the team’s strengths, and so it’s proven. Green gave the US their goal with an unforced error, and England were never able to get back into the game.

It was not a classic England performance, the team has a deserved reputation for starting slowly in big tournaments. Maintaining tradition, todays outing was particularly unmemorable.

The goal came down to an elementary mistake by Rob Green on a soft shot by Clint Dempsey. Green holds onto that 999 times out of a 1000, why did it have to be today? Green was not helped by England playing back, perhaps defending too deep and allowing the US team space to play further up the field

In the plus column Rob Green did have a great reflex save in the second half turning Altidores close range shot onto the post, but post match will inevitable focus on the mishandling of what was more of a back pass than a well struck shot on goal.

For all the questions around Emile Heskeys selection on the strength of three Premier League goals last season, he was the provider with a well-placed pass into the path of Gerrard. The England captain finished well slotting the ball past Howard. Five minutes in and England were 1-0 up.

Sadly this is England in their opening game of the world cup. Following tradition, the team seldom does things the easy way from the beginning. All the hard work was undone five minutes before half time by a goalkeeping screw-up we will be talking about for years to come.

England was defending deeply and a lot of the play was taking place in England’s half of the field. While the US were not getting too much penetration, nor were England for much of the game. Rooney was noticeable for his lack of impact, there seemed to be something of a disconnect between the midfield pairing of Gerrard and Lampart and the front two.

Milner was replaced early. Ledley King did not start the second half and will be out of the Algeria game. Capello took a couple of risks in the team, one of which was King, and it’s not paid off so far.

England had chances, but as we got further into the second half there was a growing feeling that it was just not going to be England’s night. There were chances on goal, but they seemed to be straight at Howard causing him no real issues.

It was not a total disaster for England and some perspective is needed. It was only the opening game and 4 or 5 points are all that’s needed to go through to the second round. England did not play consistently well; against a well-drilled side like the US it was not good enough. Friday it’s Algeria, drop points there and we’ve a problem. I’d like to see a comfortable win, over the course of the tournament luck evens out, I think England is owed a little by the football gods after today, I hope they had a good laugh and England learned a lesson or two. We’ll find out more on Friday.

Front page of The Sun, 05-12-09

The Sun makes a prediction on how England will do during the group stage in South Africa.

The next step towards the final in Jo’burg was taken yesterday with the draw for the groups were made.

The draw was kind, England have nothing to complain about and will play the USA (the trash talking at work has started, I need to teach them the fine art of sledging), Algeria and the group is rounded out by Slovenia.

It’s not a slam dunk, but it’s about as straightforward a path as any other top seed team and easier than most. The odds on England were cut from 8/1 to 13/2 just after the draw.

While I think England should emerge comfortably from the group, and should win the group, in the past England have struggled to get out of what looked like relatively straightforward groups in the past (Spain 82 is exhibit A). However I do believe that with Capello in charge the players will not be allowed to overlook any game and the team will be extremely well prepared for the opening match against the US.

For all this confidence lets be clear, Algerian and Slovenia are not gimmes. I don’t think there is any such thing at the World Cup Finals, they look like easier games and should be three points for both the US and England. However someone is going to slip up, every tournament one or two good teams will not make out of the group stage.

The second round game is equally interesting, win the group and it could be African champions Ghana, come second and it potentially sets up another classic duel with the Germans for a place in the final 8.

Unlike Germany 2006, Capello has made it clear that the team are there to play football and win the World Cup and indications are this will be a far more focused camp than in Ericson ran in Germany. He has said he will not allow the high profile WAG circus to become a distraction the way it did in Germany.

On the bright side it will be easy to find a bar around Seattle to watch that game. However it may not be the most comfortable time and I have a feeling that other than the George and Dragon, Three Lions and one or two other bars, I will be in the minority with my cross of St George and England scarf.

June 12^th is going to be a late start at work and I won’t be the only one.