Today's match between the USA and England was a highly anticipated match in the early stages of the tournament.
Personally, I'm rooting for England this time around, just like I did in 2006. Sue me. I follow the EPL very closely, and English football is great to watch. Plus, everyone else talks about their heritage about being in this and that other country, well, with my family background being mostly English, this is something I can take pride in.
Not that I don't want the USA to do well and represent us.
Things didn't start out well for the USA though, as Liverpool Captain Gerrard put in a goal just past four minutes. It looked like the route was on. Indeed, defensive lapses characterized the US effort for most of the match, and the frustration was clearly visible in goalkeeper Tim Howard's face. The important thing was, as much as the USA would bend throughout the match, they never broke again.
Indeed, as the match wore on, you kind of got the feeling that England wasn't taking care of business, that they weren't icing the match. If the unthinkable happened.....
The unthinkable happened about the 40th minute, Clint Dempsey hit a solid strike that should have been easy for keeper Robert Green to stop. Turns out he must have had BP oil on his hands cause it bounced and slithered away from him, and trickled across the line to tie the game at 1. It would also be the final goal.
After the half, it was clear that England was trying to take the initiative, and they pushed more and more forward at the USA throughout the second half. However, the USA probably had the best chance at a second half goal off a shot from a wing run by Altidore. This time, Green stepped up and made the save, hitting the shot off of the goalpost.
England had a few chances as well. Wayne Rooney finally showed up toward the end, but it was too little, too late, as Tim Howard saved everything that came his way. He truly was the man of the match.
In the end, it was a tail of two goalkeepers. Howard consistently made both the spectacular and routine saves, despite the lack of defense by the USA, and Green fumbled an easy one that cost England two points. Now both sides will sit and watch Slovenia and Algeria and hope that neither team picks up three points from that match tomorrow. That could make this group very interesting.
In the final analysis, it was a great football match, shots on goal, great saves, timely mistakes, excellent footwork, and a lot of guys playing hard. It's a pity that more Americans haven't gained an interest in this sport. In the end, the USA, although inferior on paper to the English side, showed that they worked together as a team and scratched out a point against one of the favorites. This will be remembered for awhile.
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