Capello’s tactics backfire
Despite having nine months to fine-tune for the World Cup, a baffled Fabio Capello still has more questions than answers over the composition and tactics of his England lineup after it was held to a 1-1 draw by the United States.
Capello never could have predicted Robert Green’s glaring blunder, the goalkeeper fumbling Clint Dempsey’s shot into his own net to gift the Americans an equalizer in the 40th minute on Saturday night.
But Capello’s gambles to start the match with midfielder James Milner and defender Ledley King backfired, with both replaced by the start of the second half. A yellow card for Milner prompted fears he could see red and leave England a man down, while the injury-prone King went off with groin problem.
England looked disjointed, perhaps symptomatic of Capello’s decision not to reveal the starting lineup to his players until two hours before kick-off.The euphoria of England’s rapid qualification has faded and Capello, going into Friday’s second Group ‘C’ match against Algeria, still faces the same puzzles he’s been trying to solve ever since.
“There’s a little bit more pressure,” defender John Terry said. “We conceded a goal at a bad time after going ahead –– it was a bit of a shock and setback to receive.”The equaliser, though, reignited the debate about England’s lack of goalkeeping talent. One of the big unknowns was, who Capello would select as his World Cup keeper. Green was the first answer, a decision the coach might reconsider.
“I decided Green would be the goalkeeper because he played the last game very well, and at Wembley (against Mexico), and the performance was very good, too,” Capello said. “He made one mistake, but in the second half he made a good save. This is the problem of the goalkeeper.
“We have to accept the mistakes of goalkeepers and of referees and of forwards. This is football.” "We have time to decide, we have time to speak with him and after I will decide," said Capello when asked if he would stick with Green.
Uncertainty still accompanies the English. King is expected to miss the Algeria game after being replaced by Jamie Carragher after halftime against the Americans.“I’m not worried for the next game,” Capello said. “We ran better in the second half than the USA. But now we have to look forward for the next game.”
