World Cup Words of Wisdom – Number 1

Posted by Frankie Lally on June 12, 2010 | 1 Comment

Fabio Capello made some peculiar decisions tonight as England could only manage a 1-1 draw with the United States of America in Rustenburg.

Robert Green, who unexpectedly started the game ahead of David James, committed a major howler in the 40th minute, allowing Clint Dempsey’s strike from 30-yards to spill from his grasp and into the back of the net.

However it wasn’t just the inclusion of Green that had football fans questioning Capello’s decisions, he also surprisingly substituted James Milner in just the 30th minute after he picked up an early yellow card from Brazilian referee Carlos Simon.

The result will by no means hinder England’s chances of getting out of the group but it could go a long way to deciding who will top Group C. England play Algeria in Cape Town on Friday in a game they should, and must win, if they are to have any chance of topping the group and avoiding a possible last 16 clash with the Germans.

The USA had a total of 46% of the possession in Saturday night’s game – a stat which I usually wouldn’t look too much into, but I think Bob Bradley’s team can take a lot of positives from their opening game, their ball retention being one.

I think the Americans will get out of Group C ahead of Slovenia,  and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they made it to the quarter finals. The U.S have many exciting players within their ranks, most notably Landon Donovan and I think they can recapture the form and spark that saw them topple Spain at last summer’s Confederations Cup.

Capello has several selection headaches now. With Ledley King now looking like he’s carrying an injury (surprise, surprise) England are going to be extremely stretched at the back and it looks as if Jamie Carragher will have to stand up and be counted.

The Italian has clearly brought this England team forward and seems to have them quite organised both tactically and mentally, but he clearly still has a lot of work to do if England are to emerge victorious in South Africa.

Feel free to leave your comments below.

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