England vs. United States: A Play-By-Play (and Other Miscellany)
T-90 minutes to kickoff: I wanted to start this special P-B-P with a fearless prediction: England 3, USA 1. I think this will be business as usual, as the States wakes up to the sound of the vuvuzelas, or as I like to call them, fentoozlers.
Here at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Fabio Capello's England side will look to end, once again, a long wait for their second star to arrive. But first, there is the issue of taking on Bob Bradley's USA side, a team hellbent on making its own mark against the mother country of football.
T-85: Line-ups!
T-80: How about those college football shakeups? Ooops, wrong code. South Africa almost got a 1-0 win over Mexico. However, when you let Rafa Marquez out in the open on the right side...ugh, it doesn't matter if you're Italy, you will get beat with the open space he can take advantage of.
T-75: The Yanks owe a great deal of their success to Rustenberg. A comprehensive victory over Egypt at the Confed Cup last year made the upset win over Spain possible.
T-70: In their recent set of friendlies, they sounded off Egypt and Mexico 3-1 while dismissing Japan 2-1 at Graz, Austria. Their last friendly was a match with the Platinum Stars, a 3-0 shutout win. No problems for Capello's crew, cruising through Group Six of qualification through UEFA. Their only loss came at the hands of the Ukraine, who defeated them long after the Three Lions sealed their place.
The Ukraine was later eliminated in the playoffs.
T-65: As for the States, they began their run with a 9-0 aggregate win over Barbados in the second round of qualification through CONCACAF. In the third round, they blazed past Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, and Cuba.
T-60: This would set up an intense hexagonal. They finished first in their hexagonal by the skin of their teeth, eking out a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica to finish with a 6-2-2 record.
With 20 points, they were one point better than Mexico and four to the good of Honduras, who chanted their initials once Jonathan Bornstein sealed the Ticos' fate. Costa Rica was then eliminated by Uruguay in the intercontinental playoffs.
T-55: I'll be a bit surprised if Wayne Rooney does not succeed in taking his anger out on the States. Methink he is feeling the pain of watching his little Red Devils finish second to Chelsea in the Premier League.
T-50: It was not a good start to the season for the USA men's national team. They lost on January 23 at the Home Depot Center to Honduras, and while they did defeat El Salvador 2-1 on February 24 in Tampa Bay, they lost a March 3 friendly in Amsterdam to the Netherlands. Further compounding issues was an embarrassing 4-2 defeat to the Czech Republic on May 25 with an experimental lineup.
T-45: After Bradley rooted the weeds out of his garden, the States were back on the winning trail with a 2-1 victory over Turkey on May 29. Their last friendly was against Australia. An Edson Buddle brace saw the Socceroos off in a 3-1 rout in Roodepoort.
T-40: It will be a mostly American crowd today. I doubt that it will help their cause. But in this instance, I welcome the evidence of my proof being disproven on the hallowed pitch of the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Ugh, what is Rick Reilly jabbering about here on ESPN? Bloody idiot.
T-35: Referees for the entire World Cup (you may have seen some of them in action so far):
AFC
Saudi Arabia - Khalil Al Ghamdi
Uzbekistan - Ravshan Irmatov
Malaysia - Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh
Japan - Yuichi Nishimura
CAF
Mali - Koman Coulibaly
South Africa - Jerome Damon
Seychelles - Eddy Maillet
CONCACAF
El Salvador- Joel Aguilar
Mexico - Benito Archundia
Guatemala - Carlos Batres
Mexico - Marco Antonio Rodríguez
CONMEBOL
Argentina - Héctor Baldassi
Uruguay - Jorge Larrionda
Chile - Pablo Pozo
Colombia - Óscar Ruiz
Brazil - Carlos Simon
Uruguay - Martín Vázquez
OFC
New Zealand - Michael Hester
New Zealand - Peter O'Leary
UEFA
Portugal - Olegário Benquerença
Switzerland - Massimo Busacca
Belgium - Frank De Bleeckere
Sweden - Martin Hansson
Hungary - Viktor Kassai
France - Stéphane Lannoy
Italy - Roberto Rosetti
Germany - Wolfgang Stark
Spain - Alberto Undiano Mallenco
England - Howard Webb
T-30: Half an hour to kickoff. England, as you know, leads this series 7-2, and have scored more goals, 35 to eight. Different story for the women. The USA is 7-2-1 against England and have scored 30 goals against the Three Lions...who have managed just seven.
Heck with watching this on ESPN3. I didn't come here to check out any college baseball. The season, as far as I'm concerned, is history.
Ruud Gullit calls for a 1-1 draw, Alexi Lalas a 2-1 USA win. Hmph. We'll find out soon enough.
T-25: Ugh, would you believe this: before the match, a little Hannah Montana. My right palm got stuck to my forehead for a minute.
"If we give up too many wide free-kicks and direct free-kicks, we will probably get punished for it," said Tim Howard earlier this week. "It's important we're solid in defence and not leave guys open one-on-one."
John Terry and Ledley King are dangerous with the set pieces they get off the corners.
T-20: Watch out for Terry to keep up his form. To quote Jozy Altidore earlier this week: "[Terry is] a great player and he reads the game well. It's going to be tough for whoever is going against him."
T-15: Another good quip here from Michael Bradley, "In any big game, players play with a lot of emotion and on Saturday, I imagine England will have 11 of them on—and so will we. The ability in any pressure situation to play with an edge and an emotion and still manage it is a challenge for any player, any athlete. The team able to do that the best has the best chance of winning."
Jabulani has been the woe of many a team so far. Wonder why...
Actually, it's more a woe of many a goalkeeper. Among its vehement critics are Italy's Gianlugi Buffon, Spain's Iker Casilla, the States' Marcus Hahnemann, Chile's Claudio Bravo.
T-10: Strikers have also expressed their disgust, such as Robinho. "For sure the guy who designed this ball never played football," he said. "But there is nothing we can do, we have to play with it."
Hmmm...could it be that the designer gave little Jabu a soul all his own? After all, it was Fabio Capello who suggested that at altitude, the ball's behavior changes drastically.
Or does it seem that he prefers the vote of confidence from Clint Dempsey? "If you just hit it solid, you can get a good knuckle on the ball," Dempsey said on Jabulani. "You've just got to pay a little bit more, you know, attention when you pass the ball sometimes."
Take note, England attackers. They trained for the altitude at their camp in Austria to cope with Rustenberg's location: 1,200 feet above sea level.
T-0: Carlos Simon of Brazil is our match referee tonight in Rustenburg. Let's get this show on the road, Charlie. Altemir Hausman and Roberto Braatz are the linesmen, and Eddy Maillet is our fourth official.
First Half Start: 11:31 AM PT
1' - We are underway. Let's see how Robert Green does here as keeper. Sparse crowd. England taking a good deal of the possession early. They will be content to settle troops down for now.
2' - Bocanegra with the throw-in. Now the USA engage in a little one-on-one.
3' - Here comes England.
4' - GOAL! England 4 Steven Gerrard
As expected, Capello's crew was going to storm the gates early. Lousy effort defensively by the States.
5' - The States will be playing on their heels now. All this time, the American broadcasters had been hyping up this match, but I do not buy a single bit of it. You cannot give Gerrard that open space. Horrible blown assignment by Ricardo Clark. Amateurish, even.
6' - Bit of a harsh tackle by Ryan Milner. This is Steve Cherundolo.
7' - Early in the contest, 1-0 England.
8' - DeMerit with the mark on Ledley King. Set piece time for Frank Lampard. Deflected for a corner. Capello with a "Drat"-faced expression.
11' - Dempsey's header never had enough mustard. Goal kick for Rob Green.
12' - Terry with the sliding challenge on Robbie Findley. Here comes a corner for Donovan.
13' - High header for Oguchi Onyewu. Seems like it came off Ledley King, though. Gerrard now with the deflection. What now?
14' - Donovan takes it short. Looked promising, but the communication with Dempsey was nonexistent.
15' - Offsides, England. Gerrard forcing the issue. Clean tackles...free-flowing football.
16' - That will work 100 percent of the time.
17' - Turf looks to be a bit unstuck for Cherundolo. A little handball by Onyewu on the replay. Goal kick for Green.
18' - Here's Robbie Findley, on the loose.
19' - Change for Jozy Altidore on the Donovan delivery misses. Horrid finishing.
20' - And that should have been 2-0 England. How do you not make the most of that chance off the transition, pray tell chaps? Goal kick Howard, but this should have been a rout by now.
21' - Here is why Jabulani has not been a favorite of a number of players. The learning curve for the ball controls is pretty steep.
22' - Cherundolo needs to work on his ball control.
23' - Here's Ashley Cole.
24' - Aaron Lennon with the excellent stop. Rob Green resets the rotation at the Royal Bafokeng. The USA wants to slow things down a bit. Back come the Three Lions.
25' - Some shot that was from Dempsey, Mr. "I Love Jabulani."
26' - Yellow card 16 James Milner
England
First caution of the match. Reckless challenge.
27' - Please. That was a terrible finish from Onyewu. Goal kick...Green.
28' - Here come the Three Lions. Looked like a good stanza right there. Corner for England.
29' - And Howard seems to be hurt after straining to make the save. No card on Emile Heskey, eh?
30' - You gotta love these slo-mo replays. The LA Galaxy's very own David Beckham likes what he is seeing, and so do I.
31' - But again, an early goal from England sets the match alight. Howard is fine, but he may be a bit winded.
Substitution England
IN 17 Shaun Wright-Phillips
OUT 16 James Milner
Here comes Man City's Shaun Wright Phillips.
33' - Dempsey still can't find anyone forward. Howard is still smarting from that Heskey tackle.
34' - This is Shaun Wright-Phillips. And in the middle of the scramble, Frank Lampard will get another corner.
36' - Here's Johnson again with the throw. England looks to up the ante. I just do not see the talent level of the USA meeting up to that of the States. They have earned more of the possession, and their speed is top-notch.
37' - Wide right for Shaun. Wide right for Shaun. Goal kick for Howard. They're peppering that net now. As for the fans, the fentoozlers are in full force, like a full force of honeybees around the Royal Bafokeng.
39' - Yellow card 6 Steve Cherundolo
United States
A shot from Donovan goes wide.
40' - GOAL! United States 8 Clint Dempsey
Nice going, Robert Green. D'oh! He blows a routine save, and it's 1-1. Well, I warned you people in this P-B-P that Jabulani here has been a troublesome little scoundrel, and here he is at it again!
41' - Howard with another good save. That's how it's done. Now it's a match, and this might spark the USA to do something now.
42' - So far, Gullit's prediction is holding true. Mine is two England goals away from being true, so it's looking good for both of us.
43' - And Heskey is hurt. Say hello to Mr. Jay DeMerit, Emile. The flying boot catches Heskey off guard.
44' - England will look to gain some tempo for the rest of this half. This is Ledley King. Onyewu with the clearance for a Lampard corner.
45' - Three minutes of stoppage time.
45' + 1' - Offsides on Ashley Cole. That stone-faced expression will be ringing true heading into the change rooms. You're not the only one with a stonefaced expression, Mr. Fabio Capello. I don that 24/7/365. At my own discretion.
45' + 3' - Perhaps the Brits will fancy one more chance here before the break? So much for that, says Wright-Phillips. No goal kick needed for Howard. It's tied.
SECOND HALF START: 12:34 PM PT
46' - Second half is now underway. Who's got dibs on breaking the deadlock? I sure hope Ricardo Clark learns to mark his man this time around, or else England will take control from here.
Substitution England
IN 18 Jamie Carragher
OUT 20 Ledley King
47' - Here come the Brits. This is Wright-Philips. Lousy set piece.
Yellow Card 15 Jay DeMerit
United States
Out of position plus intentional handball equals...smooth move, ex lax. Yellow card.
48' - That was a chance for Rooney right there. Lennon nearly handcuffed the Yanks there.
49' - Dempsey is hurt, but they continue to keep the ball in play. Calling Carlos, man down, man down...come in, Carlos...
50' - Offsides on Rooney. You can call that with Braille.
51' - Nice try, Capello. But you're not going to win the argument here. Goal kick for Tim Howard, and England continue to dictate the pace.
52' - Solid shot from Heskey, but a textbook save from Howard. Onyewu almost blew it there on the marking.
53' - Here's Cherundolo. Short passes to gain some possession. They have to do whatever they can, the States. This England team is a top-notch side, and coming back is their calling card.
54' - Another offsides, this time on Heskey. Could he be losing his touch from World Cup outings before? Hmmm.
55' - Jamie Carragher with the foul on Jozy Altidore. A set piece for Donovan is cleared.
56' - England's not giving the Yanks any space to work with. Get somebody open, says Ashley Cole with the throw.
57' - Carragher's legs are still fresh after all these years. Glen Johnson clamps down. Too far for Robbie Findley, goal kick Robbie Green.
58' - And goal kick Timothy Howard. End to end. Back come the Three Lions on the attack. Onyewu seems to be a bit fresh now.
59' - Yellow card 18 Jamie Carragher
England
Got the man, not the ball. Late challenge will get you the caution every time. Can't complain about that either, Capello.
60' - Sweet shin music by Steven Gerrard on Clint Dempsey. Set piece time.
61' - Carlos Bocanegra was off on that header. Bob Bradley seems to be thinking, "If we get this draw, Slovenia are going to be behind the eight-ball."
63' - A shot for Lampard is saved by Howard. Here's an England corner.
64' - No dice, Glen Johnson. No dice.
65' - That was an excellent opportunity for Jozy Altidore, but that didn't work out thanks to the woodwork.
66' - This is Aaron Lennon on the right side. Deflection out for a throw-in by Glen Johnson, but he looks to be bleeding at the lip.
67' - Been a fun match, hasn't it? It's 1-1.
68' - Another set piece for England. And guess who's gonna take it....yessir, it's Mr. Lampard.
69' - And please. Mercy, Franklin. That. Was. HIGH. Goal kick Howard.
70' - Green and Cole reset the attack for England. Here they come. Great challenge by Cherundolo on Wayne Rooney. (First time I called his name in a while). They wanted to neutralize his chances with the ball, the USA wanted to.
71' - They nearly failed with the header chance by the Manchester United forward. He will be on the pitch later this year with Man U as they go on their USA tour. So expect to see more of him later this year, you devoted ForgAmerican soccer fans on the View and on Bleacher Report.
72' - "God Save the Queen" is belted out by the loyal England supporters.
73' - No foul on Findley, eh? Carlos Simon is playing a loose contest. And now it's a tight one.
Yellow card 20 Robbie Findley
United States
I gotta tell you, some of the players on this USA side are amateur when it comes to timing.
74' - Ronney just mistimed that one. Howard was caught off-guard on that chance.
75' - And here is another save from Howard on Wright-Phillips.
76' - Corner for Lampard. And Rooney has the intention to save the day for the English. Or is it night? Darn these time zones...
77' - Heskey with an atrocious header.
Substitution United States
IN 14 Edson Buddle
OUT 20 Robbie Findley
Uh oh.
78' - Let's see how he does here. Onyewu clears for another England corner.
79' - The Buddlevan Connection is undergoing system maintenance. Please check back soon, thank you.
IN 9 Peter Crouch
OUT 21 Emile Heskey
The big man with the robot dance, Peter Crouch, enters the fray.
80' - I am still waiting for somebody to end this deadlock. Crouch with his first chance. With his height, he delivers he personalized warning signal.
81' - Carlos Simon asks John Terry to cool his engines, or else he's next to draw the caution.
83' - Dempsey is getting upended here. They are doing whatever they can, the States, to hold this England attack at bay.
84' - The England attack is ferocious, breaking through the midfield.
85' - Onyewu has been rock solid for the most part, but not without his flaws.
86' - Temper, temper, Wayne...
Substitution United States
IN 11 Stuart Holden
OUT 17 Jozy Altidore
87' - A little gamesmanship by Bob Bradley to perhaps salvage the draw.
88' - Holden was off on that pass.
89' - Ambitious shot from Donovan. Too high.
90' - The USA fans have to love the grittiness. Corner for Donovan.
90' + 1' - Four minutes of stoppage time. Here we go. Corner didn't amount to much.
90' + 2' - Here's a chance for England. I don't get why they need to play bunkerball at this point. Go forward, and attack. Offsides, Peter Crouch. Croucho Marx with the goofball antic. He looks like Robin Juhkental from Malcolm Lincoln.
90' + 3' - One more minute away from winning the bet, Ruud. One final stanza from the English?
90' + 4' - No sir! That's it!
Take a big gulp, Slovenia, you'll need it. My take on this match is forthcoming.
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