England Blows It Again
With the World Cup 2010 officially underway, I thought it was a good time to comment on the biggest game yet.
Perennial soccer power England, faced off against an upstart USA squad in South Africa yesterday.
Many thought that the Americans would pose no challenge to the star studded British squad.
They were WRONG.
With Major League Soccer growing rapidly in the United States and Canada, there were whispers of the Americans upsetting many of Europe and South America's biggest clubs.
The Americans did not have a superstar on the pitch, but they had a solid overall team, and a battle hardened premier league quality goaltender in Tim Howard.
Many thought that it wouldn't be enough against a star studded England lineup, but it was.
The game started well for England.
Several minutes in, Emile Heskey found England Captain Steven Gerrard open near the penalty box, and Gerrard took advantage of the gorgeous feed by putting one past Tim Howard to give England the 1 - 0 early advantage.
Even though the USA had more ball possession early on, they rarely threatened the English goal until Clint Dempsey fired a long range shot at the net, which goalie Robert Green fumbled and watched roll past him into the net.
This was a pathetic goal for a premier league quality keeper to let in, and took the spark out of the English side.
The Brits did threaten several times, with Lampard kicking a bullet at the goal, but Howard was up to the task and repeatedly fended off any English attack.
The best chance after Dempsey's goal was Jozy Altidore's strike which Green deflected away, off the post, and away from the goal mouth.
This game can be analyzed in two different ways.
1) The Americans were a lot better than the English anticipated and gave them a run for their money, or 2) The English are underachieving AGAIN and tying games which should have been easily won.
Had this been a knockout game, I could see the English losing again on penalty kicks, just like they did years ago in Germany.
I can see the English and Americans both emerging from the group stages.
However, the USA has minimal expectations upon them, whereas the English are predicted to be one of the favorites of the entire tournament.
If the Brits hope to live up to their lofty expectations, they are going to need better goaltending, and are going to have to spark their attack.
Lampard and Rooney had some chances, but neither could score.
Needless to say, Fabio Capello has to do something quick if Steven Gerrard and company are going to raise the World Cup at the end of the tournament.
To view more articles like this, visit http://www.
ubethecritic.
com
Perennial soccer power England, faced off against an upstart USA squad in South Africa yesterday.
Many thought that the Americans would pose no challenge to the star studded British squad.
They were WRONG.
With Major League Soccer growing rapidly in the United States and Canada, there were whispers of the Americans upsetting many of Europe and South America's biggest clubs.
The Americans did not have a superstar on the pitch, but they had a solid overall team, and a battle hardened premier league quality goaltender in Tim Howard.
Many thought that it wouldn't be enough against a star studded England lineup, but it was.
The game started well for England.
Several minutes in, Emile Heskey found England Captain Steven Gerrard open near the penalty box, and Gerrard took advantage of the gorgeous feed by putting one past Tim Howard to give England the 1 - 0 early advantage.
Even though the USA had more ball possession early on, they rarely threatened the English goal until Clint Dempsey fired a long range shot at the net, which goalie Robert Green fumbled and watched roll past him into the net.
This was a pathetic goal for a premier league quality keeper to let in, and took the spark out of the English side.
The Brits did threaten several times, with Lampard kicking a bullet at the goal, but Howard was up to the task and repeatedly fended off any English attack.
The best chance after Dempsey's goal was Jozy Altidore's strike which Green deflected away, off the post, and away from the goal mouth.
This game can be analyzed in two different ways.
1) The Americans were a lot better than the English anticipated and gave them a run for their money, or 2) The English are underachieving AGAIN and tying games which should have been easily won.
Had this been a knockout game, I could see the English losing again on penalty kicks, just like they did years ago in Germany.
I can see the English and Americans both emerging from the group stages.
However, the USA has minimal expectations upon them, whereas the English are predicted to be one of the favorites of the entire tournament.
If the Brits hope to live up to their lofty expectations, they are going to need better goaltending, and are going to have to spark their attack.
Lampard and Rooney had some chances, but neither could score.
Needless to say, Fabio Capello has to do something quick if Steven Gerrard and company are going to raise the World Cup at the end of the tournament.
To view more articles like this, visit http://www.
ubethecritic.
com
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