English try to keep anxieties in check

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This article was published 12/06/2010 (5958 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RUSTENBURG, South Africa — The anxious outbursts by England coach Fabio Capello and his star striker Wayne Rooney this week are a fair indication that a U.S. victory on Saturday wouldn’t be considered the World Cup upset that it was 60 years ago.

England’s form and confidence has slumped following a stunning qualification campaign, and Capello and Rooney have let it show in the lead-up to their opener against the Americans.

“Usually the first game is hard because the expectations are really big, the pressure is big,” Capello said. “I was not happy about the first game we played here in South Africa (against the Platinum Stars) and I spoke with the players after it.”

The players have been hailed as being part of a “Golden Generation” but have failed to advance past the quarter-finals in their previous two attempts to capture England’s first World Cup title since 1966.

“We feel as if we’ve underachieved over the years with the players we have,” England captain Steven Gerrard said. “We must prove to people that we are a good side. At every major tournament, people always talk about us as one of the favourites. Now it is time to deliver.”

Rooney’s determination to end England’s trophy drought was clear as he flew into a rage in the warmup match Monday, earning a yellow card for reportedly cursing at the referee.

This is the Manchester United striker’s chance to emerge as a world-class player and Capello doesn’t expect it to end like in 2006, when Rooney was sent off for stamping an opponent.

“He’s spontaneous, not uneducated,” Capello said. “He’s instinctive and when he goes out onto the pitch he goes out to win. He’s someone who gets angry when he’s treated to something unfair. But he’ll be fine for the World Cup, just as he was for the entire qualifying period.”

U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan is sensing a change in the mindset among England supporters. “When you think of the history of the World Cup, England is historically a team that has done relatively well, who have always gotten out of group and a country like the U.S., to them, is a guaranteed victory,” he said. “There (are) some people that you can tell that there is a sense of nerves about them that, ‘Uh oh. Maybe we could lose this game.’ “

— The Associated Press