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Raheem Sterling sees red in England’s off night against Ecuador Raheem Sterling sees red in England’s off night against Ecuador
(about 1 hour later)
Perhaps Roy Hodgson was correct and it was always a risk placing too much trust in a player of 19. Raheem Sterling is a player of rare gifts but he is also raw and inexperienced and that was very evident here on an occasion that might have blown any lingering chance of persuading England’s manager to risk him in his starting XI when the World Cup starts. Perhaps Roy Hodgson was correct when he said it was always a risk placing too much trust in a player of 19. Raheem Sterling is a player of rare gifts but he is raw and inexperienced and that came through on an occasion that might have blown any lingering chance of persuading England’s manager to take a chance on him when the World Cup starts.
Sterling should probably just be grateful no ban will carry over into the tournament after the wild, scything challenge on Antonio Valencia that saw him sent off 14 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute. The Liverpool player was reckless, inviting trouble, and Hodgson is not the kind of manager who wants to take risks on players he suspects might not be entirely trustworthy. Not in a World Cup, anyway. Sterling should probably just be grateful no ban will carry into the tournament after the wild, scything challenge on Antonio Valencia that led to him being sent off 14 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute. The Liverpool player was reckless, inviting the quickest red card for any outfield player in the history of the national team. He will be suspended from Saturday’s friendly against Honduras, a game he had been expected to start, and Hodgson is not a manager who take risks on players he suspects might not be entirely trustworthy.
Valencia was also sent off for his reaction, grabbing Sterling by the neck, and it was a sour note to a day that also saw Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leave the pitch with a second-half injury. The good news for Hodgson is that Wayne Rooney is back in the scoring groove and there was also plenty to admire about the performance of Rickie Lambert, England’s second scorer. Valencia was also sent off, after reacting angrily and grabbing Sterling by the neck, and the game has other repercussions, bearing in mind the second-half injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, England’s outstanding performer.
Equally, Hodgson will know England cannot expect to get very far in Brazil if they defend this generously. He will be glad to have his first-choice defence back for Saturday’s friendly against Honduras. Oxlade-Chamberlain was hurt in a collision with Carlos Gruezo and England fear the Arsenal player might have suffered knee-ligament damage. If a scan confirms their worst fears, they will look back on this friendly as an ordeal.
The opportunity was here for the support cast to stake a claim for a starting position in the World Cup but that works two ways and it quickly became apparent this could also be an occasion that worked in favour of the absentees. Chris Smalling did little to further his credentials, bearing in mind his inability to prevent Enner Valencia’s eighth-minute goal. Luke Shaw should be encouraged by his first England start but he might also reflect he could have done better for Valencia’s header and, defensively, Hodgson’s team started the game poorly, looking awkward and vulnerable. The better news for Hodgson is that Wayne Rooney is back in the scoring groove and, even on a day when the slate-grey skies over Miami never shifted, England should have benefited from playing in 75% humidity, in keeping with the kind of conditions that might be encountered in Manaus, when the serious business begins against Italy on 14 June.
Smalling was certainly not alone. James Milner could be seen giving the ball away in his own half, demonstrating that he is not a natural full-back. Ben Foster, deputising for Joe Hart, made a couple of decent saves but there was another moment when he rushed off his goal-line, seeing a danger that was not there, and that moment of impetuousness almost led to England going 2-0 behind. At 1-1, Foster came haring out of his penalty area again, justifiably this time, but was beaten to the ball by Valencia and fortunate the striker did not score his second goal. There was plenty to admire about the performance of Rickie Lambert, England’s second scorer, and it was strange that Hodgson was so reticent afterwards to praise Ross Barkley, the creator of that goal. Barkley had played with distinction on his first start but Hodgson argued that the player was untidy with his passing and needed to improve his decision-making.
England had looked threatening themselves, however. They attacked with width and penetration in the first half and frequently managed to get beyond the Ecuadorian defence. More than anything, Rooney demonstrated that playing on the left does not necessarily mean being on the edges of the game. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was doing the same on the right and it was from one of the Arsenal player’s forward thrusts that Rooney scored the 39th goal of his England career. Hodgson will also be aware England cannot expect to get very far in Brazil if they defend this generously again and will be glad, one suspects, to return to his first-choice back four against Honduras. Chris Smalling did little to enhance his credentials, bearing in mind his part in Enner Valencia’s eighth-minute goal. Luke Shaw should be encouraged by his first England start but he might also reflect he could have prevented the breakthrough goal and, defensively, there were too many times when Hodgson’s team looked awkward and vulnerable. Ben Foster, deputising for Joe Hart, was unconvincing.
In the midst of the scramble, there was a touch of good fortune about the goal because Oxlade-Chamberlain’s delivery had actually struck Lambert’s arm first. After that, Lambert and Rooney both had a stab at the loose ball, from inside the six-yard area, as the goalkeeper, Máximo Banguera, tried to smother the danger. Lambert’s backheel came back off the post and Rooney was first to the rebound. His celebration was a release of pent-up frustration. The encouraging part for Hodgson was the number of chances his team created themselves. Oxlade-Chamberlain was prominently involved, driving forward with the ball and frequently getting beyond the Ecuadorian defence. Lambert showed once again that he is not in the slightest fazed by international football and Rooney demonstrated that playing on the left does not necessarily mean being on the edges of the game. His celebration, after making it 1-1, was a release of pent-up frustration, having not even managed a shot on target in his previous four internationals.
Rooney had looked reassuringly sharp and eager to impress in a position he has not always relished. Frank Lampard was also playing well and there were flashes of Ross Barkley’s talent just behind Lambert. Yet Hodgson must have been concerned by his team’s defending. For the goal, not enough was done to cut out Walter Ayoví’s left-wing cross. Smalling’s jump was mistimed and Shaw was not covering as Valencia moved in between them to score with an expertly placed header. England had gone behind to a goal that was a snapshot of how they defended in the first half. Not enough was done to cut out Walter Ayoví’s left-wing cross, with James Milner struggling at first to adapt to the right-back spot. Smalling’s jump was mistimed and Shaw was not covering as Valencia moved in between them to score with an expertly placed header.
The most encouraging aspect for England was the number of chances they created themselves. Rooney and Lampard both tested Banguera with long-range shots in the first half and, after the interval, the speed of passing and movement frequently opened up their opponents. Oxlade-Chamberlain, in particular, could reflect on a productive night until he was hurt in a 63rd-minute challenge with Carlos Gruezo and forced off, meaning Jon Flanagan came on for his England debut. There was a touch of good fortune about the equaliser because Oxlade-Chamberlain’s right-wing delivery actually struck Lambert’s arm first. After that, Lambert and Rooney both had a stab at the loose ball, inside the six-yard area, as the goalkeeper, Máximo Banguera, tried to smother the danger. Lambert’s backheel came back off the post and Rooney was first to the rebound, scoring the 39th goal of his England career.
Jack Wilshere, who improved after a slow start, should have benefited from his first start in any game since March and Lambert, once again, showed that he is not in the slightest fazed by international football. England’s passing and movement was swift and incisive. Frank Lampard played well and Jack Wilshere, although short of his best, should have benefited for his first start in any game since March, culminating in him leaving the pitch with cramp.
His goal was a demonstration as well of Barkley’s uncommon ability to elude opposition defenders, first beating Jorge Guagua, then moving away from Frickson Erazo and slipping his pass into Lambert’s path, running in from the right. Lambert took the shot first time, striking the ball powerfully with the outside of his right foot and it went beneath the goalkeeper. Five minutes into the second half, Barkley beat Jorge Guagua, then, moving away from another defender, slipped the ball into Lambert’s path. The forward took the shot first-time, striking the ball powerfully with the outside of his right foot, and it went beneath the goalkeeper to put England ahead.
Ecuador’s equaliser was a peach of a shot from Michael Arroyo, only two minutes after coming on as a substitute, and then there was the flashpoint, as Sterling took off, reckless and immature, and perhaps too eager to leave his mark on the match – just not the way he intended. Yet the last half an hour was a costly one. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury was followed by a wonderful goal from Michael Arroyo, thumping a 25-yard shot into the roof of the net only two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Both sides had chances to score again and then there was the flashpoint, as Sterling flew into a dangerous challenge on the right touchline.
The irony is that the teenager showed impressive restraint in the face of Valencia’s anger. By then, however, the damage was done.