World Cup Group C preview: England v USA
These two countries have spent the last few years building a “special relationship”, which was never universally popular, and then a recent oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico threatened to end that. Now a World Cup fixture could kill it off entirely.
England are, of course, going to win the World Cup if you believe their large army of passionate patriots.
Trophyless since 1966, England’s desire for continental glory seems to grow with each passing tournament. Now though, on paper at least, it could be well-placed.
The World Cup is played on grass of course, but – despite the addition of turf to this complex conundrum – England do still possess all of the tools to finally succeed in a World Cup.
They have a top-class manager in Fabio Capello, a squad of outrageously talented players who are prized worldwide and, crucially, a relatively simple group. In fact, this opening match against the USA is their most difficult fixture.
Capello – whose squad is now captained by Steven Gerrard following Rio Ferdinand’s withdrawal last week – appears to be faced with two pressing selection dilemmas ahead of his first World Cup finals match as a coach.
Each of England’s three goalkeepers has his backers going into the tournament, with Capello charged to choose between David James, Robert Green and Joe Hart for the spot between the sticks, while the issue of who gets to play closest to the rampaging bull that is Wayne Rooney has also been uppermost in the Italian’s mind. Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe could all play there, while Gerrard could also be utilised in a more attacking role. In both cases Capello seems set to go for experience, with James and Heskey getting the nod.
USA coach Bob Bradley doesn’t have as much quality to choose from, but still faces a conundrum over who to pick.
In Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey he can boast two gifted attacking players with recent – and in Dempsey’s case ongoing – experience of playing against England’s stars in the Premier League, but his focus in Rustenburg is likely to be at the other end of the pitch, with many observers claiming that he’ll try to negate England by playing defensive tactics.
All of which suggests that Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard will be heavily involved.
The American has long since established himself as one of the top shot-stoppers in the Premier League, and his experience and knowhow will be vital if this US team is to progress beyond the group stages, and how desperate they are to do that.
A run to the quarter finals in 2002 was met with declarations of how this was what was needed to finally establish “soccer” as a more popular sport in America. It didn’t happen, and then 2006’s dismal exit at the group stage damaged the cause even further.
Try as David Beckham might, it has never happened. Not that this US team care. They continue to quietly go about their business in an impressive manner.
Last summer’s run to the Confederations Cup final in South Africa – they beat Spain in the semis and only lost 3-2 to Brazil in the final having been 2-0 up – underlines the quality that England will be facing.
They fancy their chances too, with West Ham defender Jonathan Spector claiming that this will be their “easiest” match in the group simply because it is the easiest one to motivate themselves for.
They’ll be up for it alright, and so the spotlight will fall upon England’s Gerrard and his attempts to inspire his country in the same way that he inspires his club, Liverpool.
He tends to lead by example there, and if he sets the right example here then England could well get those supporters’ expectations soaring even higher with an impressive win.
A draw wouldn’t be too bad a result for either side though, with the twin “threats” of Algeria and Slovenia laying ahead of them.
Both will want to win, with England in particular under pressure to succeed. The country expects, now 11 Englishman – and one Italian – have to deliver.
That “special relationship” could be 90 minutes away from ending.
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