england vs Mexico, player by player review

For those who saw the match last night, it's hard to tell if Glen Johnson's goal or the fans doing an ironic Mexican wave was the highlight of the night, on a night were the England team were flattered by a 3-1 win, it's the players that are scrutinised, looking at who will make the final squad of 23, today, for what it's worth, I'll be looking at each players performance to see if their performance deserved a seat on the plane or they would be joining Lord Triesman watching the World Cup on TV. (with the police supposedly banning people from wearing England shirts, hwo dod Rooney & co. escape the ban?)
In a game when players that played in last weekends F.A. Cup final were given the day off, it was a real chance for players to take the game by the scruff of the neck, a chance to not only make a stake to be in the final squad but also give Fabio Capello a headache thinking if they were in the first team itself, let's see if anyone did;-

Goalkeepers

ROB GREEN

mins played - 45

saves - 4
catches - 1

clearances - 0

pass success - 58%

conceded - 1

Two impressive saves in the first half suggest that England's no. 1's reactions are firing on all cylinders but he once again showed he has a tendency to let his concentration desert him at times. His one handed save from Carlos Vela in the one-on-one was superb and to be fair, he can't be blamed for the awful defending that led to Mexico's goal, I've said before but England's real weakness is in goalkeeping, we have no-one that simply stands out and i expect a straight out fight between Rob Green and Joe Hart for the World Cup, if not during the tournament then certainly after.

JOE HART

mins played - 45

saves - 0

catches - 1

clearances - 0

pass success - 48%

conceded - 0

A goalkeeper with a rapidly growing reputation and gained some vital experience under his belt after a hugely successful season on loan at Birmingham City.

His club career may stall going back to Manchester City where Shay Given is established as the no. 1 goalkeeper and it seems certain Hart will travel as the third keeper behind Green and David James, for what it's worth, when called upon last night, he looked composed and personally, I'm a fan, he took his chance and did nothing wrong in a team that played a lot better in the second half.

The goalkeeper situation isn't about who will be dropped, the three keepers, Green, James and Hart will all be going to the finals, it's about who will start. Rob Green may get the nod and i hope so, David James (David James and John Terry sounds like 4 people) is prone to too many errors and he's from the side that finished bottom of the Premiership, to do that you would have conceded a lot of goals.....and he did. His experience is why he's there and the next game against. This Sundays game against Japan should show who Capello has in mind to be his first choice goalkeeper.

Defence

GLEN JOHNSON

mins played - 90

shots on/off - 1/0

pass success - 93%

tackles - 4

fouls - 3

clearances - 4

England's right back and also right winger last night, his 47th minute goal was spectacular and Rooney, Gerrard or Lampard would of been as equally proud as Johnson was to score it. It has to be mentioned that it would be embarrassing for Walcott to have his full back brush past him while he's layed out on the turf, the first sign of life on the right all night. The fact Johnson was picked over the returning Carragher should suggest he is first choice right back, too often caught out tracking back to defence when he's marauding forward, he does give England an extra attacking option, if he could discipline his playing style to get back into position when he's pushed forward like Ashley Cole does, Johnson would be a potential world class player.

RIO FERDINAND

mins played -45

shots on/off - 0/0

pass success - 88%

tackles - 2

fouls - 0

clearances - 2

The new England captain trotted through a routine first-half performance in which the English defence was worryingly exposed on several occasions and as the main man, the finger has to be pointed at Rio for this, against the likes of Spain or Brazil, England would of been heavily punished. Maybe playing without regular partner John Terry triggered the stuttering display but still, they need to stay awake and throw themselves at the opposition more, he could easily of been 'merk'ed'

LEDLEY KING

mins played - 90

shots on/off - 0/0

pass success - 75%

tackles - 0

fouls - 1

clearances - 4

Scored the first goal to mark his first appearance in an England shirt in almost three years. But it didn't seem to take long for the rust to appear beneath the surface. It's sad to say but the Spurs man looked a yard slow and did not look sharp, looking like he expected to stroll through the game, he lost his marker for Mexico's first half goal and his body language suggested early fatigue, on this performance he'd be dropped from the squad, he'll be lucky to get a second chance against Japan and if he does, he REALLY needs to show more (i would love Gok Wan and Ledley King to have some sort of affair just for the headlines)

LEIGHTON BAINES
mins played - 90

shots on/off - 0/0

pass success - 79%

tackles - 2

fouls - 0

clearances - 1

Baines is almost guaranteed a place on the plane to South Africa because he is seen by Fabio Capello as the natural understudy to Ashley Cole. England has arguably the best left back in the world but in the self imposed absence of Wayne Bridge, Baines is a player who will give his all, though he lacks the quality of Ashley Cole, if called upon he won't shame himself. He did his job heading off the line - but sadly only found Guilleromo Franco who scored.

JAMIE CARRAGHER

mins played - 45
shots on/off - 0/0

pass success - 64%

tackles - 0

fouls - 0

clearances - 0

For a player that wrote in his autobiograpghy that he was 'never in love' with playing for England, it's hard to understand why he's here and not hard to understand why some fans booed him coming on in the second half. Playing for your country requires passion and if you not in love with playing for your country, you shouldn't. But though he never had much to do last night, it was clear he was thrilled to in an England jersey again, his main contribution was being vocal, bellowing at club captain Steven Gerrard and revelling in the occasion, appears to have the edge over Warnock to go to South Africa (though i have a theory as to why, Capello needs Carraghers experience, not for football but South Africa seems notorious for having ghetto's full of prostitutes and muggers, and Carragher grew up in Liverpool)

Midfield

THEO WALCOTT

mins played - 77

shots on/off - 0/0

pass success - 91%

key passes - 2

tackles - 3

fouls - 0

So much pace and energy but on this performance, Aaron Lennon must get the starting role in the World Cup in the right-wing slot. Arsenal's injury-prone wideman looks the business in fleeting glimpses but very little threat was really produced, have to start wondering if his goals against Croatia are his only reason for being in the squad. Considering Adam Johnson could of started in his place to make his debut, Walcott failed to shine. On this performance, he won't make the final 23 (Walcott is like the world's worst drug dealer, he's got speed and nothing else)

MICHAEL CARRICK

mins played - 62

shots on/off - 0/0

pass success - 87%

key passes - 0

tackles - 0

fouls - 0

Has had a patchy season with Manchester United and spent the season drifting in and out of Sir Alex Ferguson's plans. Though he is an experience campaigner with a great eye for a pass on his day and has a deceptive laid back style with can lull opposition into a false sense of security, worth his place on the plane if only to be back up to Gareth Barry if he's fit

JAMES MILNER

mins played - 85

shots on/off - 0/0

pass success - 77%

key passes - 1

tackles - 2

fouls - 1

Like Walcott, Milner did little to make the nation sit up and take notice, Chelsea's Joe Cole, a more experienced and creative talent, shouldn't have much to worry about. Have to wonder if the weeks talk of a transfer for multi millions has got to his head. Versatile player and it's this that could land him a place in the final 23

STEVEN GERRARD

mins played - 90

shots on/off - 0/2

pass success - 75%

key passes - 1

tackles - 3

fouls - 2

Took an almighty knock on the head and probably came round thinking Liverpool had won the Premier League. After some treatment he strode back out onto the pitch swathed in bandages a la Terry Butcher. Had a hand in England's first two goals, a corner for the first goal and chip into the box which led to Crouch netting no. 2. This man is key to England being successful just as much as Rooney or John Terry are, this performance once again showed that (though he was bound to be lucky after what looked like a bird poo on his head)

TOM HUDDLESTONE

mins played - 28

Tom and many other midfielders are in the mix but too many players ahead of him to really make the final squad

ARRON LENNON

mins played - 13

A bit part role but, after missing half the season through injury, he has fresh legs, looks far more effective than Walcott and hope he starts against Japan

ADAM JOHNSON

mins played -5

Simply not given a chance to shine, would be a real shock if he went to South Africa

Strikers

PETER CROUCH (the face of Pringles, but the body of Twiglets)

mins played - 90

shots on/off - 2/0

pass success - 58%

key passes - 0

tackles - 0

fouls - 0

the much travelled striker always puts in a perfomance for England. Must go to South Africa. A terrific scoring record for the national team and a talisman as England rarely lose when he scores. His first half goal was bizarre....but it counted. The 6ft 7in beanpole is an effective if gangly secret weapon in Capello's armoury

WAYNE ROONEY

mins played - 90

shots on/off - 2/0

pass success - 58%

key passes - 0

tackles - 0

fouls - 0

The bullldog compliment to lean and lanky Crouch, Rooney is a menace but had a mixed night. A clever flick baffled Ricardo Osurio then when through he was easily tackeld by full-back Rodriguez. Looks to have something at the back of his mind like some minor injury he's trying to run off. Still, England's main man is expected to do well at the tournament which could well define him

JERMAIN DEFOE

mins played - 45, quick and gives Capello a different option in attack, usually bought on for final 30 minutes as he's effective against tired defenders, still selfish and never passes the ball but gets goals and that's what counts