Goals from Jesse Lingard, Trent Alexander-Arnold and
Callum Wilson saw the Three Lions to a fairly comfortable victory over the USA
at Wembley Stadium on a night where the country paid their respects to Wayne
Rooney in what was his farewell performance for his country.
This was also a friendly to help raise money for the Wayne
Rooney Foundation so a great cause and a worthy charity to raise money for, and
it was also fitting that his final game for England would be against the
Americans considering the success he is now having out their with DC United in
the States capital.
It was also a very important warm up game for the big one on
Sunday against Croatia at Wembley in the final UEFA Nations League Group match,
which we now know sees the winners take all and progress into the final stages
of the competition, so Gareth Southgate took this chance to field some players
who were on the fringes or coming back from spells out.
The much-changed team were soon into their stride and had
much zip and enthusiasm about them and were soon causing the visitors problems
with their pace and power, and you thought it would only be a matter of time
before they broke the deadlock, however this didn’t arrive in the opening
twenty minutes.
And in fact, it was the US who so nearly broke the deadlock
when going clean through but Jordan Pickford made a brilliant stop to deny
them, and kept the scoreline at 0-0.
The hosts then struck a double blow midway through the half to
take control of the contest, firstly when Lingard received a pass from Deli
Alli before curling a wonderful effort beyond Brad Guzan into the far corner of
the net, and then secondly when Alexander-Arnold ran onto a through ball to
fire an unstoppable effort into the far corner to double the Three Lions lead.
The hosts were now purring and threatened to overrun their
opponents, but fair play to the Americans who did whether the storm eventually
but these England players certainly showed that they have what it takes to play
at the highest level as they reached the break two goals to the good.
Half Time England 2
USA 0
The early exchanges of the second half saw the visitors with
a bit more of the ball than they had had in the early part of the first half,
although England still looked threatening when in possession, and in the 58th
minute came the moment everyone had been waiting for, the introduction of Rooney
for this 120th and final cap for his country.
The cheer when he came on sent shivers down your spines, and
I’m sure he must of felt amazing having that much love and support from a crowd
he had wowed for 15 years as an international, but he also had an important
half an hour or so to play and help out the youngsters around him.
Both teams had openings in the second period but could not
find that goal, but the hosts always looked in control and did make it three
inside the final fifteen minutes when Wilson got ahead of his marker to steer an
effort beyond Guzan and in off the post to cap a memorable evening for the
Three Lions.
Rooney showed class touches in his final appearance and
played well, but all we wanted was a Rooney goal, and it so nearly came on a
couple of occasions, one when he shifted onto his right before hitting an
effort which Guzan saved, and then another when stretching to try and divert a
ball across goal but couldn’t quite get there.
So alas it wasn’t to be for Rooney, but he had certainly
bowed out with his head held high, whilst for this England team the squad looks
healthy now and are certainly moving in the right direction. Croatia awaits us on Sunday in what promises
to be one hell of a showdown, can’t wait!!!
Full Time England 3
USA 0
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