England 2 USA 0 : May 2008

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Wednesday May 28, 2008; International Friendly.

England 2 United States of America 0

England: D.James, W.Brown (G.Johnson 57), A.Cole (W.Bridge 82), O.Hargreaves, R.Ferdinand, J.Terry, D.Beckham (D.Bentley 45), F.Lampard (G.Barry 57), J.Defoe (P.Crouch 68), S.Gerrard, W.Rooney (J.Cole 78).

Match Report: England friendlies have not provided the most exciting spectacles over the past few years and for half an hour this one threatened to be the worst of the lot. Thankfully a goal by John Terry inspired England to then produce a decent showing while America conveniently kept as low a profile as possible.

After another stultifying pre-game ritual of children, introductions, pop stars trying to show off singing the national anthems (America's Destinys Child embarrassed herself) and the ludicrously hyperbolic announcement of the England team the game opened at a predictably mundane pace with neither side stringing more than two passes together.

This is what we have come to expect from England friendlies but this was particularly depressing as the nation waited for something to restore faith in our faltering football team.

Over six minutes had elapsed before the first thing resembling an incident occurred. David Beckham fouled Heath Pearce to concede a free kick but this was easily cleared and England suddenly had the chance of a break.

Jermaine Defoe did well to carry the ball forward but when Wayne Rooney then attempted to exchange passes with his latest partner his return ball was cut out.

It was another five minutes before England gained a free kick in a dangerous area when Steven Gerrard was caught as he looked to break away after linking with Ashley Cole. The set piece was just beyond the left hand angle of the penalty area and Beckham went over to clip a delightful ball to the far post where Gerrard stole in to steer a sweet half volley inside the opposite post.

Unfortunately the referee hadn't blown for the kick to be taken so all England received was a ticking off for Beckham. It was also possible that the defender nearest to Gerrard had stopped anyway knowing that the move was meaningless.

When Beckham was allowed to take the free kick he whipped a lovely ball right across the face of goal but nobody in white could get on the end of it.

Wes Brown played his side into trouble with an awful pass out of defence but the Americans were looking even more pedestrian than England and completely failed to take advantage. Rooney was then sloppy again at the other end as he failed to release Defoe as the striker made a telling run beyond the American defence.

With almost twenty minutes gone England produced their first effort on goal as Gerrard pounced on a loose ball to feed Beckham on the edge of the box but his hurried volley flew well over the crossbar.

Despite this attempt England had failed to put any kind of move together in the opening twenty minutes as the game desperately waited for a spark.

A slip by Carlos Bocanegra gave Rooney the freedom of the right hand side and he took the right option in squaring the ball back to Gerrard on the edge of the box but the pass was slightly behind the Liverpool man whose shot was blocked when he was able to get it away.

England attacked again quickly and Ashley Cole won a free kick down the left hand side of the box after a decent exchange of passes. Beckham cleverly played the ball back low behind the throng of players in the six yard box to find Gerrard whose left footed shot was well hit but could not find its' way through the packed defence, Clint Dempsey the man in position to head clear.

This hinted at something better from England but the next few minutes saw America enjoying a better spell. Brown was required to produce a good headed clearance under pressure at the far post before Eddie Johnson found himself in space after a neat 1-2 only to centre meekly to David James' near post.

John Terry then conceded a free kick in a dangerous area after blocking off Johnson's run but DaMarcus Beasley's free kick was a total waste.

With thirty four minutes on the clock England finally produced a move of real quality. Rooney had managed to link with Gerrard, playing predominantly on the left hand side, a couple of times and now released his fellow Scouser with a wonderful, first time, half volleyed flick and Gerrard's centre offered Defoe a real chance at the near post but the striker could only direct his close range effort wide of the target.

Four minutes later England's slight improvement was reflected by an opening goal. It was not too surprising that this should come from a set piece, however. Ricardo Clark fouled Wes Brown on the right hand side and when Beckham whipped a typical centre towards the penalty spot John Terry reacted smartly to plant a header low beyond Tim Howard.

Gerrard was at the heart of most of the good things England were producing and he linked again to good effect with Cole and when the ball was slipped inside to Defoe he was tripped right on the edge of the box for another free kick. Beckham could not clear the wall, however, and when the ball subsequently came back to Owen Hargreaves he sent his shot flying way over the crossbar.

Beckham then sent a wonderful diagonal ball forward for Defoe who was crudely hauled back by Steven Cherundolo for a fully deserved booking. Again Beckham's free kick failed to clear the wall and the first half ended with Rooney somehow avoiding censure from the referee after a ridiculous, lunging challenge from behind in just about the most innocuous area of the pitch possible.

Half Time: England 1 America 0

England had eighteen substitutes stripped and ready for action but would only be able to use six of them. The first to be introduced came on at the break, David Bentley replacing Beckham on the right hand side of midfield.

Before England had got their minds' back on the game after the break America came within a whisker of equalising. Pearce got forward down the left before finding Johnson with a low centre and his instant shot on the turn flashed just wide of the post with James rooted to the spot.

Bentley marked his introduction with two wild challenges within the space of a few seconds but the erratic referee again saw nothing amiss. Bentley would struggle to contribute anything of a more constructive nature as the half developed.

Rooney and Gerrard linked to good effect to find Defoe just outside the area but his low shot waas easily fielded by America's replacement goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Defoe was more unfortunate moments later when he turned sharply onto a floated free kick by Terry and held off his marker before firing the bouncing ball straight at Guzan.

With just under an hour played England made a couple more changes with Gareth Barry and Glen Johnson coming on for Frank Lampard, totally anonymous, and Brown.

Within a minute Barry had made his mark as England scored a superb goal. Rooney came deep to start the move although his pass back towards Hargreaves was not the safest. Hargreaves had to hurry to knock the ball forward first time and Defoe also had to react sharply to slip the ball inside to Barry.

These two passes had made a breach in the American defence, however, and when Barry then slid a perfect ball through for Gerrard, cutting inside from the left hand side, he was clean through on goal. Gerrard's touch took him further to the right but he had no trouble in slipping a low shot back across goal and inside the post.

England were now producing some slick, passing football although there was less hint off an end product as Capello's men looked mainly satisfied with their two goal advantage.

Josh Wolff sent a stooping header wide for America before being replaced by Freddy Adu who gave a feeble impression of the boy wonder he had once been touted as.

With Theo Walcott and Gabby Agbonlahor both on the bench it was truly depressing to see Peter Crouch summoned to replace Defoe.

Rooney then finally managed to force his way into the referees' book before being smartly withdrawn for Joey Cole to take his place.

Cole soon had the embarrassment of being comprehensively beaten by Eddie Lewis along the goalline and James was at full stretch to tip the centre behind.

James was also called upon to save a weak effort from Adu while Crouch sent in two pathetic attempts at the other end.

In truth the game was finishing as it had begun but at least England had produced enough in the middle third of the game to muster some optimism for next seasons' World Cup campaign.

There's still plenty of work to do and much for Capello to think over before then, however.

Full Time: England 2 America 0

England: D.James 5, W.Brown 4 (G.Johnson 5), A.Cole 7, O.Hargreaves 6, R.Ferdinand 6, J.Terry 7, D.Beckham 6 (D.Bentley 4), F.Lampard 3 (G.Barry 7), J.Defoe 6 (P.Crouch 4), S.Gerrard 8, W.Rooney 6 (J.Cole 5).

Star Man: Steven Gerrard

Gerrard was played in an unfamiliar left sided position but showed up to advantage. Most of England's attacking moves came down that flank with Gerrard linking well with both Ashley Cole and Rooney.
He also took his goal very well to cap an impressive display.
Would you keep him out on the left when the real football starts again next season, though? Frank Lampard's turgid display in the centre did nothing to dispel the feeling that Gerrard is the man for that position.

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