Rub of the Green

When all the fuss dies down on this goalkeeping error, we should perhaps look a bit further into the display 'our boys' put on. Yes it was good - nothing more than that - and at times industrious because it had to be. A rousing pre-match huddle before the game meant the team knew what had to be done, maybe one should have taken place after the game to ask "how do we get it done.
Dont get me wrong, the start of this all sounds a bit negative, England showed that they are a solid unit, one that can battle and ask questions, and after all it was just the first game, and these tournaments are not won in the first 90 minutes of play.
Going through the side then and judging the players
GREEN - well he did bounce back with a good save in second half
JOHNSON - showed good ambition going forward, maybe he could be our real breakout star in the World Cup
COLE - you know what youre going to get from him and he was reliable
TERRY - at times doing the work of 2 men and didnt really put a foot wrong
KING - always had a question mark hanging over him fitness wise and seemed to be holding up, but has broken down again, could lose out completely if his replacement plays well
MILNER - Capello clearly rates him, but again maybe rushed back too quick following his virus
LAMPARD - had to to most of the sitting back, and was fiarly invisble for much f the game
GERRARD - great start to the game and was most lively outfield player
LENNON - you know he can do it , he knows he can do it, just lacking that final ball sometimes, deserves another run-out though.
ROONEY - you cant say he was marked out the game, but until the last 20 minutes didnt show any of the hype and hope
HESKEY - we can be proud of him - ok he missed a great one-on-one chance - but he did everthing that was probably asked of him.

SWP - really frustrating, has talent but runs down so many blind alleys and his inability to actually go past players is bemusing
CARRAGHER - rusty? out of form? out of touch internationally? well is he the answer on Friday?
CROUCH - won all the balls that he had launched at him but they fell approx 15 yards away from thier intended target

Much to ponder then for Mr.Capello, i have faith that he will see the changes that have to be made, enforced or otherwise, also that he will potentially realise that a system chnge may be needed. For sure you have players that are chomping on the bit on the bench.

Dont be too disheartened by the result - many a great success story in World Cups have been built on starts like these, indeed our own campaigns have gotten off to even worse openings. More on that later