For Fabio Capello, Monday night’s 3-1 win against Mexico at Wembley must have felt like more questions had been posed than answers. Remarkably, despite Wembley’s awful pitch, all English players came through the game unscathed without any further injury scares, as the Three Lions bid farewell to their boisterous fans on a winning note. However, it was far from plain-sailing.
With the opening match of the World Cup just over a fortnight away against the USA in Rustenberg, Capello used the chance to experiment with a new formation, as all of Chelsea’s winning FA Cup stars sat this friendly out due to mutual agreement with the Stamford Bridge club. James Milner and Michael Carrick played as two holding players, with Steven Gerrard out wide. This didn’t work, as the talented Mexicans took command of a positive first 45 minutes. Time and again, they threatened the English goal, with PSV Eindhoven left-back Carlos Salcido producing the closest effort, brushing the post with a bending curling shot. However, Mexico’s ineptitude at defending set-pieces cost them, as they were 2-0 down by this point.
Fifteen minutes in and Gerrard’s corner was flicked on at the back post by Peter Crouch, and played into the path of fellow Tottenham colleague, Ledley King, who was given the freedom of the penalty area to score only his second international goal. For King, this was his first start for England since June 2007, and everyone will be pleased to see him come through the game and the aftermath with no problem. Despite a few shaky moments at the back, alongside the out-of-form captain, Rio Ferdinand, King’s place in the final 23 looks secure now. Crouch continued his remarkable scoring record, by handling in England’s second goal from one yard out, after Wayne Rooney’s header was tipped onto the crossbar by the Mexican goalkeeper. With the last kick of the first half, ex-West Ham striker Guillermo Franco almost embarrassingly got the North Americans their deserved registration on the scoreboard, tapping home after Leighton Baines had failed to deal convincingly with a Rafael Marquez goal bound header.
The second half was far more pedestrian, with only one moment of real significance. Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson’s first international goal, straight after the interval was a beauty. On his weaker left foot, Johnson combined well with Theo Walcott to produce a stunning effort into the top corner. He won’t score many better.
So, the positives were no injuries, the result, Johnson’s excellent performance, Crouch continuing his scoring run for England, which might have put him in pole position to be Rooney’s strike partner at the finals, instead of the bumbling Emile Heskey and the brief impacts by Aaron Lennon and debutant Adam Johnson, which showed with pace and freshness, they could be major impact players off the bench.
Negatives was the performance of Baines, who got skinned almost everytime and looked lost on the pitch. As Stephen Warnock has not player under Capello, Baines probably will go to South Africa, but we must hope that Ashley Cole stays fit all summer. Another one to struggle was Carrick, who has had a poor season for Manchester United and now is carrying that form into international level. Unless Gareth Barry is eventually declared unfit, Carrick might not make the final cut, especially with the promising Tom Huddlestone and more consistent Scott Parker on his tail for his place in the squad.
Sunday’s warm-up, at high altitude in Graz against Japan might tell us some more about England’s chances for the forthcoming finals, but after this performance, Fabio Capello will have plenty of food for thought, despite the pleasing final scoreline.
