[quote author=Buddha link=topic=40510.msg1119454#msg1119454 date=1276509348]
Henry Winter: Steven Gerrard heroics are all in vain
Only one English lion looked like he belonged in Africa. Only Steven Gerrard really rose to the occasion of an opening World Cup game, scoring for England and driving his team on but too many of his team-mates faltered on the highveldt last night. The captain led by example but sadly nobody followed.
By Henry Winter
Published: 11:42PM BST 12 Jun 2010
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Leading the way: England's lionheart captain celebrates his goal against Serbia but his efforts were ultimately all in vain as Fabio Capello's team were held to a draw Photo: AFP
Even Wayne Rooney was off the pace, sparking into life only when Gerrard moved near. The pair are friends off the pitch, on the same wavelength on it and England’s manager, Fabio Capello, must restructure his side to ensure they are closer together. The likelihood is that Gerrard may be shifted back to left midfield to accommodate Gareth Barry in central midfield against Algeria in Cape Town on Friday.
However Capello reconfigures the team this week, he must instil Gerrard’s attitude in the rest of the side. The Merseysider was everywhere, engaging in what the US coach Bob Bradley called a “big, hard battle’’ in midfield, and breaking forward.
Unfortunately in the second half, Gerrard dropped deeper and deeper as England became more desperate, retreating into the dark ages with some of their Route One football: all 4-4-2 predictability, all long balls meat and drink to the excellent Oguchi Onyewu, all pointless.
Capello talked afterwards of the “spirit of England’’ but that really only suffused his No4. Gerrard’s focus had been unmistakable in the tunnel, the England captain ignoring his American counterpart Carlos Bocanegra, breaking his concentration only to shake hands with the passing subs with their purple Fifa bibs. In dressing-room parlance, Gerrard was “up’’ for this. Pity more of his team-mates weren’t.
Gerrard had known the eyes of the nation were upon him, that there were those who questioned his right to be considered one of the world’s best. Determined to channel all his energies into the tournament, avoiding the distractions that scarred Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, he had studiously forbidden any discussion of his future.
Yet that composed finish after four minutes showed why Real Madrid crave his signature, why Jose Mourinho hopes to make it third time lucky in attempting to work with Gerrard. Uprooting from his native Merseyside would be a major decision for Gerrard but the offer from the Bernabeu will surely come, particularly if he continues to replicate his vibrant first-half form.
It was not simply the assured way he controlled the lay-off from Emile Heskey, guiding the ball into a prime shooting position, that so impressed.
It was not only the way Gerrard used the outside of his right boot to flick the ball so accurately past Tim Howard, Liverpool beating Everton, that caught the eye.
It was the intelligence of the run, the realisation that gaps were opening through the middle as the US struggled to regroup when Glen Johnson took a quick throw-in and Frank Lampard helped the ball on to Heskey. It was the energy, too, the stamina and speed to drive forward, keeping ahead of Ricardo Clark, who simply could not live with Gerrard’s surge.
England’s captain said he would lead by example and he was true to his word. Shortly after sliding on his knees across the pitch in celebration, Gerrard was tracking back, sliding in to nick the ball away from the flying feet of Robbie Findley.
On his 81st international appearance, Gerrard was ubiquity personified, one moment putting in a thumping tackle on Clint Dempsey, the sandy soil flicking up into the air, and the next skilfully turning Jay DeMerit. He was such a force between the areas, dropping deep to make himself available for a pass from John Terry, who was under pressure and looking to offload quickly.
Gerrard had talked about the way England could progress at the World Cup, about using “our power and strength, the things that teams fear about us’’, and the 30 year-old embodies that. Going into this competition, the reflective Merseysider has sought inspiration from a range of sources, from watching DVDs of Lions rugby tours to South Africa and footage of sprint champion Usain Bolt, hoping that England could be equally quick out of the blocks. So it proved.
Gerrard will always have Istanbul, and Cardiff, with Liverpool but internationally he has been waiting to seize the day. He was not helped here by Capello getting his three major calls wrong: James Milner had not recovered sufficiently from his virus, Ledley King’s injury record meant it was little surprise when his adductor muscle went and Robert Green looked a bag of nerves.
After Green’s moment of horror, the keeper too deep in his starting position, and paying the price of not being able to recover a fumble, Gerrard sought to stir dispirited players, turning individuals back into a cohesive force again.
For all Gerrard’s exhortations, England looked listless. The captain was even booked for foot up on Dempsey. Still he refused to hide, still he showed for the ball, creating from the deep, and urging the subdued Lampard forward.
When Glen Johnson cut his lip, having to leave the field for some attention, Gerrard slotted in at full-back. All very team-minded, but Capello needs to construct a platform that consistently serves his captain.
Gerrard cannot be in two places at once. Yet he almost forced a breakthrough with a series of crosses, to Rooney and Heskey. Such was Gerrard’s enduring threat that Findley caught him nastily on the ankle. Stop Gerrard, stop England.
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Aaaah yes, Henry Winter, author of 'Steven Gerrard: The Autobiography' with his entirely unbiased view.
