England versus the United Sates of America at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Sports stadium — allegedly the Soccer World Cup match most under threat of a jihadi attack — only really exploded in the second half.
This was down to England coach Fabio Capello encouraging his team to utilise their pace down the flanks more often, rather than any major clash of fundamentalisms: footballing, economic, religious, or otherwise.
But England’s adventurism in the second half was not enough to nick a win from this 1-1 draw — despite the best attempts of wingers Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips (a first-half substitute for Aston Villa’s James Milner). Or a more robust second half from Wayne Rooney, who was dropping deeper into midfield in an attempt to alter the course of the game after an ineffectual first half.
Former England captain and Chelsea defender John Terry expressed surprise at the draw after the match, saying the result was “not what we expected really, we expected to win the game”.
Man of the match Tim Howard said conceding the early goal “sucks” but that the team recovered: “Our foundation is based on hard work and running, and kicking and scratching … [in the second half] we played well, kept a tight line and were better.”
The first half started in encouraging fashion for the Three Lions after captain Steven Gerrard put them ahead as early as the fourth minute.
Rooney left a Frank Lampard pass, which had been collected from a throw-in, and the ball ran through to Emile Heskey, whose ball found Gerrard thundering through the middle. The Liverpool midfielder slotted the ball coolly under US goalkeeper Tim Howard.
There were more near misses in a half that included lots of huffing and puffing from both sides with neither blowing the house down. Or the stadium, for that matter, which had allegedly been targeted by an al-Qaeda offshoot for a terrorist attack because of both nation’s involvement in the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
But, with US Vice-President Joe Biden attending the match — and dropping in on the US team’s change room an hour before kick-off to wish them well — security was highly visible: from explosive sweeps to burly “undercover” operatives attempting to camouflage their ear-pieces as iPod earphones, et cetera.
Blooper of the Tournament
Security detail attempting to look inconspicuous wasn’t half as funny as England keeper Robert Green’s bumbling that allowed Clint Dempsey to equalise for the US.
A speculative shot from outside the box by Dempsey saw Green scoop the ball over his shoulder for what must rank as one of the contenders of Blooper of the Tournament.
Capello brought on Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher after Ledley King in central defence at the beginning of the second half and US forward Jozy Altidore initially gave the 32-year-old stopper a torrid time before slowly gaining control of that duel.
But not before Altidore skinned Carragher while chasing down a long punt and blasted the ball goalwards — drawing a fine save from Green who, after the match was philosophical about the error and feeling confident that he would “bounce back” from it.
England looked most threatening when Lennon or Wright-Phillips attacked down the flanks, with right back Glen Johnson also providing zing by combining well with Lennon and going on the odd mazy run.
Heskey spurned a gilt-edged opportunity when he was put through by Lennon and, with only Howard to beat, shot straight at the keeper.
Said Howard of the save: “I kind of guessed that he would go across me [with his shot] — and he almost did — but he hit it too cleanly and almost down my throat.”
Rooney meanwhile attempted to play himself into the match, and his endeavor yielded some near misses, including a shot that went flashing Howard, whose fine saves — especially in the second half — earned him man of the match award.
But the US was doughty in defence and held out for the draw, with Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey looking their most dangerous threats — especially when able to combine with Altidore.
Despite Americans apparently having bought the most tickets of any nation at this World Cup, the Royal Bafokeng stadium was swathed in the white flags emblazoned with the red cross of St George.
And the stadium reverberated to the monotonous chants of ‘In-ger-land! In-ger-land! In-ger-land!” with the only religious edge coming from a bunch of England fans dressed as Crusaders funneling beer through vuvuzelas.
Winger Wright-Phillips was impressed by the English support.
“I came out before the game for a stroll and I said to the lads that the stadium is full of England fans … It’s incredible. That’s why when I’m on the pitch — and for the rest of the players as well — we want to give our heart and souls for the fans for coming so far and coming to support us.”