It's Not EASY Being Green: USA Ties England 1-1

So Britain's The Sun proclaimed on December 5, 2009, that England's group was EASY as in England, Algeria, Slovenia, Yanks. Now it seems that England has come to the realization that it's not EASY bein' green. Today, the same British tabloid says that it's a curse. The United States drew 1-1 with England in both countries' opening match of the 2010 World Cup. It looked as if Wayne Rooney and his mates were going to dominate when Steven Gerrard scored in just the 4^th minute on a huge defensive lapse for the United States on what should have been a routine throw in according to USA Today.

In the 40^th minute came redemption, karma, and luck. CNNSI captured the image perfectly as a relatively weak and low shot from Clint Dempsey escaped the open clutches of England goalkeeper Robert Green as he watched helplessly when the ball trickled into the net. The one all draw at halftime didn't look it would stand as England made furious charges in the second stanza.

But then came the time of Tim Howard. Everton's goalie, and former Manchester United keeper, came up big and denied everything else that entered his sphere of influence. Included in the barrage were point blank shots, crosses, and high arching shots that he swatted away time and time again.

Jozy Altidore nearly netted a winner when a shot deflected by the hapless Green hit the post and bounded away. So much for the "best English group since the Beatles."

One of Britain's most respected newspapers, The Mirror, quoted English head coach Fabio Capello as saying "I spoke with some of the players and they said the ball changed direction at the last moment." What?!

First of all, every team in the World Cup is equally yoked with the same ball. Second, every tournament draws criticism about the new ball. But ya know what? It's still a round bladder filled with air. If you can't deal with just a round thing full of pressurized air maybe you should go back on life support. Capello should be excused for making such an irresponsible remark. It was his goalkeeper that he chose to start that screwed up. Tim Howard didn't have any "changes of direction" when he saved shots. Even Green admitted it was a "mistake."

Before we talk any more about Green's error, Clint Dempsey definitely deserves props for the fancy footwork that he did to even get off the shot. He turned around his English shadow to allow him just enough space to shoot from 25 yards out.

As ESPN said, England's players couldn't get off the field fast enough and the Americans stayed to celebrate. The pressure is still on. The USA cannot afford a letdown now. They've tied the best team in the group and now they play a game the next team, Slovenia and then Algeria.

This game was cosmic karma pure and simple. How dare the ruffians from America ruin England's game. This victory was for all the English fans who thought this group was "EASY." If Fabio Capello has a job after the next two weeks, I'd be surprised. What he should have done was take responsibility since I don't see any other head coaches complaining about how the ball has been handled. What was really EASY was Robert Green's hold on the ball in the 40^th minute, not a walk over the former colonials who are often considered to be the JV of the soccer world.

Wake up, England. It's not a curse you're enduring. It's karma for your holier-than-thou attitudes about football (aka soccer). Until I see some humility on the other side of the pond you won't get any sympathy from me. With all of your great coaches in England, how come your national side coach is Italian? I think that says it all.

The key to finishing first in the group now will be to play Slovenia and Algeria better than England. If the USA and English are tied in points atop the group (which both should have 7 points), the next tiebreaker becomes goal differential. Sam's Army needs to win by more goals than England does assuming both squads will defeat the much weaker teams. If the goal differential is the same then the USA needs to score more goals than England does in the group stage. After that, FIFA draws lots according to the official rules.

Two things need to happen for the USA to finish first. Landon Donovan has to feed Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey the ball. Second is that Tim Howard needs to keep being the best goalkeeper in the world. Howard gets my "Man of the Match" award for not letting any rebounds get away from him, not to mention hanging in there after being cleated in the chest midway through the first half.

Until the next game, I'm going to enjoy this moment. Yes, the goal was a fluke. But all that matters after ninety minutes is the final score. 1-1, USA-England, take that and shove it down your EASY flappin' mouths.