Terry bounces back
Thursday, 29 May, 2008
John Terry bounced back from his Moscow heartache with a captain's performance - and a goal.
England 2-0 USA
International Friendly
8.05pm, Wednesday 28 May 2008
Wembley Stadium
If character, self-belief and a sense of occasion are the qualities needed to be an England captain then John Terry showed them all in abundance on a night of positives for the Three Lions.
Terry, who just a week ago was in tears after missing a penalty in the Champions League Final, returned home to captain his country and score in a 2-0 victory over the USA. And there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
Terry’s wonderful header from a perfect David Beckham cross in the 38th minute set England on their way to an excellent victory that provided so many encouraging signs for Manager Fabio Capello.
The Chelsea star’s performance was virtually faultless and can have done him no harm whatsoever in the race to become England’s permanent skipper.
His celebrations were understandably heartfelt and you can only hope the surge of confidence his goal provided will help ease the pain of such a difficult night in Moscow seven days earlier.
In truth, though, Terry never looked for a second like allowing his Champions League trauma to affect him as he took the match calmly in his stride. And his performance says an awful lot about the defender's character and determination.
His display was by no means the only highlight for England, either, as man-of-the-match Steve Gerrard, outstanding in a new role on the left of midfield, scored a well-deserved second from a beautiful pass by substitute Gareth Barry.
That goal is destined to be repeated on Match of the Day credits for many years to come and ensured Capello maintained a 100 per cent home record since taking over the England reins.
The Italian also gave a chance to Jermain Defoe up front and the Portsmouth man responded with a lively display alongside Wayne Rooney, who was back to his powerful best as he tormented the USA defence.
Add in Beckham’s impressive 45-minute display on a night when he was presented with a golden cap for completing 100 appearances for England and you can see why the Three Lions will go to Trinidad on Sunday on a high.
Just the tonic that captain Terry needed.
England
1 David James, 2 Wes Brown (13 Glen Johnson, 57) 3 Ashley Cole (14 Wayne Bridge, 82), 4 Owen Hargreaves, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 6 John Terry (c), 7 David Beckham (17 David Bentley, 46) 8 Frank Lampard (21 Gareth Barry, 57) 9 Jermain Defoe (25 Peter Crouch, 68) 10 Steven Gerrard, 11 Wayne Rooney (22 Joe Cole, 78)
Substitutes not used 12 Joe Hart, 15 Stephen Warnock, 16 Jonathan Woodgate, 18 Phil Jagielka, 19 David Wheater, 20 Tom Huddlestone, 23 Stewart Downing, 24 Ashley Young, 26 Dean Ashton, 27 Theo Walcott, 28 Gabriel Agbonlahor, 29 Joe Lewis
Goals
Terry 38, Gerrard 59
Coach
Fabio Capello
Colours
White shirts, blue shorts, white socks
USA
1 Tim Howard (18 Brad Guzan, 46) 3 Carlos Bocanegra (c), 4 Michael Bradley, 12 Heath Pearce, 6 Steven Cherundolo (27 Frankie Hejduk, 46) 7 DaMarcus Beasley (11 Eddie Lewis, 68) 8 Clint Dempsey, 9 Eddie Johnson (14 Nate Jaqua, 89) 13 Ricardo Clark, 16 Josh Wolff (19 Freddy Adu, 68) 22 Oguchi Onyewu
Substitutes not used 2 Danny Califf, 26 Mo Edu.
Coach: Bob Bradley
Colours: Grey shirts, white shorts, grey socks
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)
Assistant Referees: Dimitrios Bozaizides & Dimitrios Saraidaris (both Greece)
Fourth Official: Peter Walton (England)
Attendance: 71,233