It was nice to see a positive media aftermath to an England game for the first time in God knows how long following their 2-1 defeat to Italy. Despite the result, England looked very good and had it not been for some issues down the left-hand side and a lack of sharpness in front of goal they could well have come away with the victory. Tonight they fielded an unchanged XI, personnel-wise, and faced a Uruguay side featuring the returning Luis Suarez in what was perhaps rightly being classed as a make-or-break clash for both sides. Read on to find our thoughts on how both sides got on!
It was very end-to-end early on as both teams struggled to get a real grip on the game; England in particular struggled to find their passing rhythm. The Liverpool contingent on the pitch were heavily involved from the get-go with Gerrard, Sterling and Johnson working efficiently (offensively, at least, in Johnson’s case) early on whereas Henderson got some key tackles in on the likes of Luis Suarez and co. when the play was going against the Three Lions.
The first big chance of the game came from an England free-kick as Hodgson’s men were the beneficiaries of a Godin handball about 25 yards away from goal. Wayne Rooney stepped up to take the kick in a bid to secure the lead for his side and his first World Cup Finals goal and he very nearly got it as his effort curled just millimetres wide of Muslera’s top corner – the keeper was rooted to the spot and wouldn’t have got anywhere near making the save had it been on target.
Up to that point it had been a good team effort from England, moving well for each other on the offensive end and staying in formation well defensively, mostly restricting Uruguay to long balls and mazy runs down the flanks. Jagielka and Johnson defensively were causing England problems though as the former rode his luck on a number of occasions, none more-so than when he tried a clumsy turn which just about came off. Soon afterwards, Jagielka cocked up again as a clearance bounced off of his shin into the path Cavani who fed Cristian Rodriguez on the edge of the box but the Atletico winger’s effort swerved over the bar.
Uruguay grew into the game more and more as time continued to pass but perhaps should have been a man down midway through the first half as Godin clapped Sturridge in the face with his elbow while the forward was playing a one-two with Welbeck, taking the striker out. England won the free-kick but there were serious calls for a second yellow there which were waved away by the ref – it wouldn’t have been harsh to send him off for that either.
Rooney went even closer before long as he got on the end of a great free-kick delivery by Steven Gerrard. Inches away from the line, the United forward leapt to meet the ball but twisted his body while making the connection and crashed his header against the frame of the goal as a result. England had 60% possession in the first 35 minutes and had chances to make that possession count, Uruguay couldn’t afford to keep shipping golden chances like that.
Similarly though, England couldn’t afford to keep missing them; especially considering what happened moments later as Uruguay found themselves ahead. Cavani, who’d barely had a kick up to this point, found himself in space on the left before having time to pick out Suarez in the box who had gained a yard or two, running away from goal, on the dire Jagielka before nodding a beautiful header past the helpless Joe Hart, making England pay their price for their lack of sharpness in front of goal.
All the talk at half-time was about Godin escaping punishment for the elbow on Sturridge but in truth it should have been about the chances England had missed; they were behind and really only had themselves to blame. England came out for the second half still reeling from the end of the first and Uruguay should have made them pay! Suarez and Cavani both had glorious chances coming in from wide areas but got their shots horribly wrong on both occasions. Rooney then completed a hat-trick of fluffed chances as a rare spark of life from England in the opening 10 minutes of the second half saw the striker played in by Welbeck but could only fire his low effort straight at Muslera in the Uruguayan goal.
England were slowly getting back on top of the opposition again but were lacking the final ball they needed. Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana were introduced before long in order to try and help in that regard, with the idea being that they’d add more creativity and fresh legs to what looked to be a tiring England side – soon enough it paid off as the unthinkable happened! That’s right folks, after countless chances passing him by in the past eight years, Wayne Rooney scored, yes scored, his first ever World Cup Finals goal after connecting with a Glen Johnson cross that was the result of some great work by him and Daniel Sturridge on the right hand-side. Muslera could have probably done more to prevent the cross reaching Rooney but take nothing away from the finish, Rooney had his first World Cup goal and England were right back in this game.
Sturridge then went close with a quick toe-poke moments later as Muslera spilled it before England settled back into the good rhythm they’d developed since making substitutions after the hour mark. Suarez and Rodriguez had half chances for the Uruguayans but couldn’t make the most of them; both sides had less than 10 minutes to take the win and up popped Luiz Suarez to make it happen for Uruguay. Counting on an opportunity for a contested long ball in midfield to come his way, Suarez began his run through the English defence; the opportunity came his way as Gerrard got a slight headed touch, allowing the ball to bounce through to the back four only for Suarez to catch Jagielka napping and break free to score his and Uruguay’s second goal.
England kept knocking at the door, desperately looking for the equalising goal but it never materialised for Roy Hodgson’s men and now needed other results to go their way if they were to have any chance of qualifying for the next round. The odds are slim, and England need a lot of luck but it is still possible! Stay with us here at Fortitude to see if England can complete the World Cup version of the great escape!