13 Jun 2010

Rookie error from goalkeeper costs England at World Cup

9:37 am on 13 June 2010

A shocking schoolboy error from the England goalkeeper Robert Green gifted the United States a goal as the two sides tipped to qualify from Group C battled to a 1-all draw at the football World Cup this morning.

The 29 year old Green, winning only his 11th cap after being preferred to the vastly more experienced David James, will be haunted for the rest of his career by the mistake when he failed to routinely stop a low, bouncing 25-metre shot from Clint Dempsey after 40 minutes.

However bizarre, the goal was one the U.S. deserved after battling their way back into the match after Steven Gerrard's fourth minute goal gave his side a dream start in the first World Cup meeting between the sides since the U.S. stunned England 1-nil in the 1950 World Cup.