England expects !

For weeks flags have flown on buildings and cars. Pubs are bedecked in them. The cross of St George adorns T shirts, mugs and every form of memorabilia. Pictures of Fabio Capello have appeared appeared with the caption "The Godfather". 44 years of hurt, once more the press and the bookmakers build up England's chance of success in the World Cup.

On Saturday 12th England's WC campaign kicked off against the USA. Some hours before the news of the team leaked out. The strengths and weaknesses were only too apparent. Off the pitch the Back 4 of Johnson ( shop lifting) , King ( drunk and disorderly), Terry ( scumbag and del boy impersonator) and Cole ( love cheat and greedy disloyal bastard) are hardly role models, but could they work as a unit on the pitch. Behind them West Ham's Robert Green was preferred to in -form Joe Hart and experienced if accident prone David James. The selection of Emile Heskey as strike partner to Rooney, raised eye brows as Heskey is to say the least "not a prolific goalscorer"

The perfect start when Heskey (a national hero for a hour) slipped the ball to Steve Gerrard who slipped the ball beyond America's keeper Tim Howard. Across the country, wild celebration as the pints flowed. We should have known it was too good to last. Cometh the hour, cometh the Clown - in the shape of Robert Green. A fairly harmless shot, swirmed from his grasp and in slow motion trickled across the goal line. It was a goal more in keeping with a Sunday morning pub side than the nation's elite.

Into the second half , the half crocked King was replaced with the barely efficient Carragher, yet still England had more chances, Heskey found himself one on one with Howard. You guessed it , he hit the ball straight at him. Now no longer a national hero. The game eventually petered out, a 1-1 draw, something that many Americans in the ground found hard to grasp . "Isn't there going to be overtime."

Once again the national side fail to reach the heights. The team failing to equal the sum of the parts. The USA are not a bad side, one questions whether a centre back who plies his trade at Watford should be able to shackle England's best striker.

After the game Gerrard said that the whole England team is behind Green. With hindsight that's just a good idea, because they could clear the ball off the line. Whether Capello is as forgiving only time will tell.