In Midst of Dark Days, England’s Soccer Team Easily Defeats U.S., 5-0

For all the dark clouds that hang heavy and brooding over English soccer these days in wake of the tragedies in Bradford, Birmingham and Brussels, there is a silver lining.

It comes in the form of the English national team, a team that on Sunday shrugged off the twin devils of introspection and self-doubt and swept past the United States with almost contemptuous ease.

So, while London’s Sunday Times might sniff about soccer in England being “a slum sport played in slum stadiums and increasingly watched by slum people,” the same sport can still produce moments of exceptional grace and beauty.

Even when played by the currently much-criticized English.

On Sunday evening, in front of a small but fervent Coliseum crowd of 10,145--many of the fans draped in Union Jacks and English team scarves--England defeated the United States, 5-0.

A pair of goals by Kerry Dixon, another two by Gary Lineker and one by Trevor Steven, did the damage. And before U.S. apologists rush to argue that their team lost to an older and vastly more experienced side, let it be known that Dixon is 23, Lineker 24 and Steven 21.

One other youngster, 22-year-old Paul Bracewell, showed some touches of class, while veterans Bryan Robson and Glenn Hoddle were their usual steady selves. England, on the verge of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup in Mexico, can look forward to the trip with confidence.

The score could easily have been higher, and, indeed, England missed a penalty kick in the first half when Arnie Mausser made a fine save in the U.S. net to turn away Hoddle’s attempt, but Bobby Robson, the English coach, was satisfied with the result.

“It’s a reasonable score,” he said. “They (the Americans) worked hard and stood up and challenged us and chased us, but obviously their technical ability was always going to be below ours.

“It’s a satisfactory score from our point of view and it hasn’t demolished them, and I think at the end of the day, that’s acceptable.”

The goal of the game was, without a doubt, Lineker’s exceptional effort that flashed into the roof of the net in the 13th minute.

“Gary’s goal would have been a great goal in any match,” Bobby Robson said. “He received a good ball from Hoddle, chested it, turned and volleyed it in from shoulder high. A superb strike.”

It could have been 2-0 less than a minute later, but Mausser, playing an all-time record 35th time for the national team, guessed correctly, dived to his right and palmed away Hoddle’s penalty kick that followed a foul by Perry Van Der Beck. Mausser later made an even more spectacular save off a wicked header by Bryan Robson from close range.

Dixon’s first goal in the 31st minute was the result of his own power and determination when, after being shouldered to the ground in the penalty area just to the left of the net, he retained possession, regained his feet and swept the ball past Mausser into the opposite corner.

Lineker made it 3-0 in the 47th minute, Dixon increased the advantage to 4-0 in the 68th when his partially blocked shot just dribbled over the line, and Steven completed the scoring in the 76th minute. The last three goals came against Tim Harris, who had replaced Mausser in the second half when the teams began substituting freely.

Despite the lopsided score, Bobby Robson said he was impressed by a couple of the U.S. players.

“Rick Davis, he looked a useful player,” the English coach said. “He worked and had a bit on the ball and read the play quite well. I liked the No. 11 that came on (Jeff Hooker) and I liked the No. 3, the long, skinny fellow (Mike Windischmann). He did all right.”

Asked whether, in light of the fact that the U.S. team already has been eliminated from qualifying for the World Cup, it might not be better to scrap this team and start again with younger players with an eye toward the 1988 Olympic Games and the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Bobby Robson said no.

He did, however, point out the most serious flaw in the American team, one that has plagued it ever since its last, first and only victory over England in 1950--the inability to finish what it begins.

“I think they (the American players) were better than I anticipated, to be honest,” he said. “They were equal to us in the second half on some of the plays, except in the last 25 yards. From 25 yards to the goal, that’s when they struggle and when they haven’t got much of an idea.

“They’ve got no imagination and no ability to create and score goals. But their defensive work and midfield play generally was, um, adequate. It stood up to some degree.

“It was always going to be difficult against us. They were never ever going to control the midfield, but I thought they worked hard and had a go at us, and by and large they haven’t been disgraced.

“No, I don’t think they should start again. You keep what is good and you try to improve.”

Or, as U.S. Coach Alkis Panagoulias said in the losers’ locker room, “You just have to suffer.”