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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 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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, 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The encouraging part for Hodgson was the number of chances his team created. Oxlade-Chamberlain was prominently involved, driving forward with the ball and frequently getting beyond the Ecuador 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. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | The irony is that the teenager showed impressive restraint in the face of Valencia’s anger. By then, however, the damage was done. |