England 1 : 1 USA

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Last night’s game was hard work to watch.  It wasn’t so much that England found some new low, rather that they rediscovered an old one.  For ninety minutes it was as if Capello had never been there.  The familiar dilemmas had returned.  Can Lampard and Gerrard excel together?  What do you do on the left? Who should play in goal?

I haven’t added ‘who should start up front with Rooney’ because I thought Heskey played a blinder.  Yes he buried a decent chance into Howard’s midriff rather than the net, but we all expected that anyway.  He was a fantastic target man, winning every ball and laying it off for a team mate, and was good in the build-up to England’s goal.

The injuries are a worry, particularly at the back. King and Ferdinand were the ones to deal with pacey strikers.  Let’s hope King’s groin strain isn’t serious.  The decision to replace Milner with Wright-Phillips is a curious one.  If Joe Cole is only the third best option on the left, why did he make the final twenty-three?

As for the goalkeeper.  Green’s nervous blunder on his tournament debut was a nightmare. Personally I think that Capello should have picked one successor to James and stuck with him to give him the experience. Goalkeepers need a run in the team.  The choice wasn’t an easy one, there have been several similar contenders, but by making it and sticking to it the keeper chosen would have got the maximum experience.  I wouldn’t rule out sticking with Green.  Sticking with someone is the key.

Gerrard and Lampard? They are two great players, they should both play, but side by side in a flat four midfield just doesn’t seem to work. They are so similar in style that if the formation doesn’t dictate what they do, then identical instinct or indecision kick in.

There are plenty of teams that successfully play 4-1-3-1-1 or 4-4-1-1, call it what you will.  Maybe Heskey should be dropped, Gerrard sit behind Rooney, Lampard in the centre of the three and Barry, or King, in front of the back four.

Well that’s my view from the armchair, I suppose it’s just possible Capello knows a hell of a lot more than me!

Hopefully this was just a nervy start and guys will get into their stride.  None of the teams have really impressed so far and maybe we all expect too much from the eagerly awaited first games.

I still expect England to progress by winning the group.