Smithies proves a point

England hero Alex Smithies says he's unlikely to get any sleep tonight after enduring an action-packed afternoon at the Goyang Stadium.

The Huddersfield Town keeper made up for being beaten by a freak goal by saving an 82nd minute penalty. Ten minutes later, Smithies confessed to wanting to do cartwheels when his captain Jordan Spence swept home a dramatic injury-time winner.

"I'm buzzing," he said. "The adrenaline is flowing. I won't be able to sleep tonight.

"When Jordan scored I was running around celebrating by myself. I wanted to do a cartwheel. It was the best feeling ever, knowing we have beaten Brazil and won the group."

Smithies' afternoon looked like it might be doomed when he conceded a goal which drew comparisons with Ronaldinho's famous free-kick against England in the 2002 World Cup.

As with David Seaman, Smithies back-peddled but could only watch as the ball curled into the far corner.

"I was anticipating a cross," he recalled. "It caught me in two minds, I was not sure whether to go for it or not. In the end it sailed over my head. It was similar to the Ronaldinho goal."

With England a goal down, Smithies showed huge character to put Brazil's goal to the back of his mind and his confidence was given a huge boost when he made a fine stop from Tales towards the end of the half.

"I was gutted about the goal, but I knew I could not think about it," he added. "I had to get on with it as I knew I would play a big part in the game."

And so it proved. But there were a few more twists before Smithies would have his defining moment.

England equalised through Henri Lansbury's clinically taken penalty on the stroke of half-time and Smithies said that goal was a real shot in the arm for the young Lions.

"After H got his goal, we were buzzing in the changing room. We knew we could go out and win the game."

But with the game seemingly drifting towards a draw, Gavin Hoyte felled Lulinha in the box. Ten English heads dropped when the referee pointed to the spot, but not Smithies who had a premonition he'd prevail.

"I have saved five penalties in 13 games for England," he said. "I am quite confident on penalties. I thought I was going to save it."

Like Bruce Grobbelaar's jelly legs, Smithies has his own ritual - he points to where he thinks the penalty-taker is going to shoot the ball.

"I pointed to the left - I don't know whether it's mind games or not," he added. "It might be off putting. It's like what Dudek did in the Champions League Final. I have done it before and it's worked.

"I was delighted when I saved it. I have seen the highlights - I was celebrating before the ball had been kicked out. I was ecstatic. It felt like I made up for the first goal. I was buzzing."