Own goals win it for England
Source: Agencies |
May 31, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ENGLAND missed a penalty but came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in a World Cup warmup game thanks to two own goals.
After Marcus Tanaka had given Japan a seventh-minute lead yesterday, England's Frank Lampard had a penalty saved by Eiji Kawashima.
But Tanaka headed a cross by Joe Cole into his net in the 72nd minute and Yuji Nakazawa deflected a cross by Ashley Cole past his goalkeeper in the 83rd.
The game was played in the Austrian city of Graz so that the two teams could get used to playing in the high-altitude conditions they will face next month in South Africa.
Capello is due to announce his final 23-man squad on Tuesday with England's opening Group C game on June 12 against the US followed by ties against Algeria and Slovenia.
Japan kicks off its daunting Group E campaign against Cameroon on June 14 before taking on the Netherlands and Denmark.
Elsewhere, Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas complained the official World Cup ball was better suited to the beach than to the finals after his side's 3-2 warm-up win against Saudi Arabia in Innsbruck, Austria.
"It's a bit like a beachball," the Spanish captain was quoted as telling the Spanish media yesterday before going on to describe the unpredictable movement of the ball.
"Now it isn't only the goalkeepers (complaining) it is the outfield players as well. It's sad that a competition as important as a World Cup has an element as vital as the ball with such abysmal characteristics."
Casillas earned his 103rd cap in Innsbruck on Saturday, overtaking Real Madrid teammate Raul to become the second most-capped player in the country, behind another keeper Andoni Zubizarreta with 126.
The European champion needed a last-minute header from substitute Fernando Llorente to beat the Saudis after a sluggish performance which left coach Vicente del Bosque unimpressed.
It has a chance to sharpen up in its next friendly against South Korea, also in Austria, on Thursday.
Spain will face Switzerland, Chile and Honduras in the group stages of the World Cup.
After Marcus Tanaka had given Japan a seventh-minute lead yesterday, England's Frank Lampard had a penalty saved by Eiji Kawashima.
But Tanaka headed a cross by Joe Cole into his net in the 72nd minute and Yuji Nakazawa deflected a cross by Ashley Cole past his goalkeeper in the 83rd.
The game was played in the Austrian city of Graz so that the two teams could get used to playing in the high-altitude conditions they will face next month in South Africa.
Capello is due to announce his final 23-man squad on Tuesday with England's opening Group C game on June 12 against the US followed by ties against Algeria and Slovenia.
Japan kicks off its daunting Group E campaign against Cameroon on June 14 before taking on the Netherlands and Denmark.
Elsewhere, Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas complained the official World Cup ball was better suited to the beach than to the finals after his side's 3-2 warm-up win against Saudi Arabia in Innsbruck, Austria.
"It's a bit like a beachball," the Spanish captain was quoted as telling the Spanish media yesterday before going on to describe the unpredictable movement of the ball.
"Now it isn't only the goalkeepers (complaining) it is the outfield players as well. It's sad that a competition as important as a World Cup has an element as vital as the ball with such abysmal characteristics."
Casillas earned his 103rd cap in Innsbruck on Saturday, overtaking Real Madrid teammate Raul to become the second most-capped player in the country, behind another keeper Andoni Zubizarreta with 126.
The European champion needed a last-minute header from substitute Fernando Llorente to beat the Saudis after a sluggish performance which left coach Vicente del Bosque unimpressed.
It has a chance to sharpen up in its next friendly against South Korea, also in Austria, on Thursday.
Spain will face Switzerland, Chile and Honduras in the group stages of the World Cup.
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