World Cup Countdown - - No Bridge after English troubled waters

Published The Evening News & Tribune, March 9, 2010)

For those of you counting, there are now just 94 days to the start of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa on June 11.

So Kick It thought it would be a good idea in the lead up to the “greatest show on earth” to provide you each week with various tidbits of interest so as to get you in the mood.

We’ll kick off with a saga you might have already have heard about, but its questioned significance and possible benefit to Team USA is one that will be debated until tournament time.

England, the US’s first opponents on June 12, are going into this World Cup as joint second favorites (5/1) among a number of leading British bookmakers – behind Spain and level with Brazil – to win the whole kit and caboodle. The US, incidentally, are a general 66/1.

A few months ago, I fancied England because of the climate (which will be cool and to their liking), and because of Wayne Rooney (in simply unstoppable form at the moment), but you won’t find me scampering any time soon to some oddsmaker with my hard earned loot from the next neighborhood garage sale to lump on Fabio Capello’s gang of overpaid individuals. (Not that I can in the Hoosier State anyway!)

Firstly, England’s number one left-back, Ashley Cole of Chelsea, fractured his ankle (ironically in a tackle with US’s Landon Donovan while playing against Everton) and will be doing well to make the World Cup.

Then, his replacement, Wayne Bridge, announces his permanent withdrawal from the English team following the scandal which revealed that his former partner - - and mother of his child – was involved in an affair with ex-team mate and friend, England captain John Terry.

Mr Bridge didn’t take it very well, and despite Capello stripping Terry of the captaincy, said in a statement that his position in the squad would have been “untenable and potentially divisive.”

So will this all mean anything come showtime? You can bet the English tabloids will go to town on its effect, and will decide by June – in unison, I would imagine – that they are all united, that Terry is over it, and it won’t matter a jot.

However, it’s hard to believe it won’t take a toll. Not only has it unsettled the squad, as evidenced by its first half performance against Egypt last week, but it also weakens the team at left back. If Cole makes it, Bridge’s absence in itself won’t matter too much, but the feeling it has left amongst some of the players most likely will.

Such tension doesn’t disappear overnight, and England has never struck me as very united anyway. Not in the Republic of Ireland united sort of way when it tied with England at the 1990 World Cup (and beat them at the 1988 European Championships). And not the unitedness the US shows, and will continue to in South Africa.

Good for the US? I think so. Bob Bradley’s boys might have concerns with injuries right now, but barring Charlie Davis (involved a car accident), most first choice options should be firing come June 12. Playing England first may indeed be a blessing.