Terry helps England cruise past USA
29th May, 2008
John Terry put his Champions League woes behind him as he helped England on the way to a 2-0 victory over the USA on Wednesday night.
The Chelsea captain was made the England skipper for the first time under new coach Fabio Capello, in the Italian’s third game in charge. It was the influential centre-back who got the first goal for the home side, meeting David Beckham’s cross from a free kick well, putting it in the bottom corner where the keeper had no chance.
It had been a typically bland first half of the international friendly match, and there were not many other highlights before the 38th-minute goal. England did then go on to show some good technical moves, and threatened twice more before the break, but Defoe and Hargreaves failed to really trouble the USA keeper.
England started the second half positively, and got their reward early on in the half. Substitute Gareth Barry found Steven Gerrard in space and gave him a well-weighted ball which Gerrard coolly slotted past the keeper for the second goal. From then on the USA never looked like getting back into the game, and the tempo dropped as England saw out the win.
England boss Fabio Capello confirmed after the game that he will excuse seven of the players involved in the Champions League final from the national sides’ next friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.
The players set to get on their holidays early are John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, plus Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, Owen Hargreaves and Wes Brown. Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Bridge are the only players who were involved in the squads that will be travelling to the game.
Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s pre-match England v Trinidad and Tobago betting and odds preview.
By Chris M
