World Cup 2010: Robert Green squirms as England flop in USA game

ENGLAND 1 USA 1

WORLD CUP 2010 Robert Green s blunder WORLD CUP 2010: Robert Green's blunder

It’s not just BP who can’t stop leaks – add the crestfallen Robert Green to the list.

Green’s absolute howler in the first-half undermined England’s start to their World Cup finals campaign.

There have been few worse examples of the goalkeeping art in this famous competition.

The Royal Bafokeng Stadium is higher in altitude than Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis. Last night the West Ham keeper could have been excused for wanting to throw himself off it.

There seemed little danger when Fulham’s Clint Dempsey took aim from 25 yards but somehow the ball squirmed around Green and over the line.

A few other England players could have followed him to oblivion after an uninspiring display. England were left gasping for breath and grateful for a point despite taking a fourth-minute lead through skipper Steven Gerrard.

Rob Green and his blunder which cost England 3 points Rob Green and his blunder which cost England 3 points

It wasn’t quite 1950 and Belo Horizonte, when England were embarrassed 1-0 by a country still learning the game, but the Three Lions are still waiting for their first competitive win against Uncle Sam.

So much hope, so much hysteria, so much hype – but in England’s recent history too many false dawns and ultimately tears.

But in Fabio we trust – well at least as long as England remain in the World Cup.

England’s vast army of fans who transformed this part of the African Bush to Shepherds Bush were in need of assurances that Capello’s team were in tune in Rustenburg. They didn’t receive too many.

Capello, who had maintained what is becoming an antiquated 4-4-2 system in international football, had insisted his players hit the ground running after some laborious first-half displays in the World Cup build-up.

Cue a fourth-minute strike from skipper Gerrard to satisfy his manager’s desire for an early shot across American bows.

Glen Johnson’s quick throw saw Frank Lampard survive a crunching tackle before laying into Emile Heskey’s path. He might not be a prolific scorer but the Aston Villa man has a footballing brain and the lay-off saw Gerrard in on goal. An exquisite finish with the outside of his right foot sent England into dreamland.

A 17th international goal – one to treasure. And one scored with so little fuss you might have thought the Liverpool man was in a training session back at Melwood.

There was still plenty of hard work ahead. A sharp reminder soon followed with Landon Donovan crossing and Hull’s Jozy Altidore should have done better with a close-range header.

In fact England lost out too many times in midfield – too often the case in recent games with Capello’s preference of going with two strikers and a couple of wide men.

One of them, James Milner, clearly still suffering from a stomach bug which had hit him earlier in the week, was removed. A lack of normal energy and zest was exposed in a cynical challenge on Steve Cherundolo which earned him a yellow card.

Shaun Wright-Phillips came on. Capello was prepared to live or die through pace on the wings but a lack of cover in central midfield. Little did he know his goalkeeper was on a suicide mission. Five minutes before the break Dempsey fired low from 25 yards.

It should have been a routine take by the West Ham man but to his horror and every Englishman watching at home and around the globe, it spun from his grasp and trickled slowly over the line.

Sadly Green’s name joined the litany of goalkeeping errors which have cost England down the years. David Seaman against Brazil in Japan 2002, Paul Robinson’s air-kick in Zagreb, Scott Carson at Wembley against Croatia in the failure to qualify for the last European Championships, David James on numerous occasions and even Ray Clemence, the man who looked to console Green, allowing a ball to slip between his legs at Hampden Park against Scotland.

There was more misfortune for England with Ledley King’s injury problems returning, Jamie Carragher replacing him at half-time.

Green helped atone for his horror gaffe with a fine save from Altidore, pushing his effort on to the bar.

Carragher and Gerrard were both booked as England lost their way. Heskey should have done better with a forceful header but England struggled for ideas and cohesion.

At least consolation comes in the fact that England have made many stuttering starts in World Cups, including 1966 with a goalless draw against Uruguay.

Well, you can always dream, can’t you? Not Robert Green – he will endure a recurring Rustenburg nightmare.

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