John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, as expected, played the full 90 minutes of England's opening World Cup match.
In a 4-4-2 selection, Lampard was paired in the middle with Steven Gerrard who scored in a 1-1 draw against the USA.
That was the opener and it came inside four minutes but it did not set England on their way as it should have done. Despite looking the more dangerous side, it was a performance that left hanging many of the question marks over the side's chances that were there prior to this tournament.
Not least is the quality of the goalkeeping with West Ham's Rob Green conceding a horror equaliser six minutes before half time when he failed to stop a routine straight shot. The scorer was Fulham's Clint Dempsey who has caused pain for Chelsea in the past.
Another question mark has been the fitness of whoever partners Terry in central defence and Ledley King was replaced at half time by Jamie Carragher, and then there is the centre-forward position and although Emile Heskey's link-up play against the States was good, he struck the best scoring chance of the game straight at keeper Tim Howard.
Terry's performance was pretty much impeccable and Ashley Cole was defensively sound, if a little reserved in pushing forward against Landon Donovan. When Cole did attack with menace into the area shortly before the interval, his cross was blocked.
Lampard, with plenty of defensive duties too, had few chances to score but he did work Howard just past the hour. His left-foot shot was tipped over, and after later striking a free-kick too high, was challenged well in front of goal when taking a return from Aaron Lennon with time running out.
Lennon was on the right of midfield and Joe Cole missed out on selection on the left to James Milner. When the Aston Villa man was taken off before half-an-hour was up, Cole was passed over as substitute in favour of Shaun Wright-Phillips. Not on his favoured right side, the former Chelsea winger did not impress.
England failed to create much in the first half following the early goal which came about when Lampard took a Glen Johnson throw and his pass found its way to Heskey. Turned into Gerrard's path, it was good finish from England's latest captain.
The United States caused some concern with aerial crosses into the England area and for Fabio Capello's side, Johnson almost hit back straight after the equaliser, but the bulk of the opportunities were second half.
Green did well to turn a shot from former Hull striker Jozy Altidore onto the post, Wright-Phillips made it easy for Howard when well-placed, and Heskey headed his second chance over.
Wayne Rooney finished the game strongly and England will take some comfort from the quality of some parts of their game although they picked up bookings for Milner, Carragher and Gerrard.
It was a familiar stuttering start to an England World Cup campaign.
In a 4-4-2 selection, Lampard was paired in the middle with Steven Gerrard who scored in a 1-1 draw against the USA.
That was the opener and it came inside four minutes but it did not set England on their way as it should have done. Despite looking the more dangerous side, it was a performance that left hanging many of the question marks over the side's chances that were there prior to this tournament.
Not least is the quality of the goalkeeping with West Ham's Rob Green conceding a horror equaliser six minutes before half time when he failed to stop a routine straight shot. The scorer was Fulham's Clint Dempsey who has caused pain for Chelsea in the past.
Another question mark has been the fitness of whoever partners Terry in central defence and Ledley King was replaced at half time by Jamie Carragher, and then there is the centre-forward position and although Emile Heskey's link-up play against the States was good, he struck the best scoring chance of the game straight at keeper Tim Howard.
Terry's performance was pretty much impeccable and Ashley Cole was defensively sound, if a little reserved in pushing forward against Landon Donovan. When Cole did attack with menace into the area shortly before the interval, his cross was blocked.
Lampard, with plenty of defensive duties too, had few chances to score but he did work Howard just past the hour. His left-foot shot was tipped over, and after later striking a free-kick too high, was challenged well in front of goal when taking a return from Aaron Lennon with time running out.
Lennon was on the right of midfield and Joe Cole missed out on selection on the left to James Milner. When the Aston Villa man was taken off before half-an-hour was up, Cole was passed over as substitute in favour of Shaun Wright-Phillips. Not on his favoured right side, the former Chelsea winger did not impress.
England failed to create much in the first half following the early goal which came about when Lampard took a Glen Johnson throw and his pass found its way to Heskey. Turned into Gerrard's path, it was good finish from England's latest captain.
The United States caused some concern with aerial crosses into the England area and for Fabio Capello's side, Johnson almost hit back straight after the equaliser, but the bulk of the opportunities were second half.
Green did well to turn a shot from former Hull striker Jozy Altidore onto the post, Wright-Phillips made it easy for Howard when well-placed, and Heskey headed his second chance over.
Wayne Rooney finished the game strongly and England will take some comfort from the quality of some parts of their game although they picked up bookings for Milner, Carragher and Gerrard.
It was a familiar stuttering start to an England World Cup campaign.
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