World Cup Match Report: England vs USA

I’ve cycled to Cape Town twice mainly because one of my best mates Adam Bannister (tenuously related to Roger Bannister who ran the four minute mile) lives in Cape Town. Yes, there are easier ways of getting there but cycling there was the best way to ensure that I impressed chicks in bars when I got there. Adam’s now a Gamekeeper at a big national park but has taken 6weeks off to watch as many games live at the stadiums as possible.

He saw the England game live and this is his report:

Rustenburg Stadium

There was a constant stream of cars leaving Johannesburg heading towards the Hartebeestpoort Dam area. It seemed that everyone had the same plan as us. First watch the Springboks muscle out the French, in a number of little pubs near the dam and then move onto the various park ‘n rides to braai and pre-drink before catching a lift to the stadium for what promised to be one of the most mouth-watering games of the World Cup. England vs. the United States of America. Security at the stadium was tight with a number of high powered dignitaries present, but once inside it was wonderful.

Rustenberg Stadium is tiny in comparison to Soccer City and seats half the number of spectators; but what it lacks in size it makes up in so many other ways. It has an incredible atmosphere and allows for the crowd to really interact nicely with each other!

I went to the game dressed up as a lion; yes that’s right a spitting image of Richard the Lion Heart! The outfit was a hit an instantly convinced the Poms that I was serious in supporting the “Dad’s Army”. I saw chain-mail clad Knights, RAF pilots, supermen, Uncle Sams, guys in fat-suites and even an American dressed up as a shoe! The fans really had gone to town and were literally wearing their passion on their backs.

Hearing the crowd erupt into “God Save The Queen” nearly brought tears to my eyes. My entire life I have watched English Football on TV and dreamed of what it must be like to hear it live; well I got my chance and yes at times I was overwhelmed. Even the ear-drum bursting sounds of the Vuvuzelas were drowned out as the Barmy Army sang and the brass band trumpeted their non-stop tunes. Sections of the stadium never sat down! It was like a home game for the English as the red and white flags of St. Georges were fastened to the railings around the entire stadium. Each flag is imprinted with the town the fan comes from, or the team they support. Grimsby, Coventry, Wigan, Wimbledon, AVFC, Tottenham, Chester, Queens Park, Brentford etc.
England had the perfect start with Steven Gerrard scoring within a few minutes. It took a howler by English goalkeeper to ruin the party and level things for the Americans. It was only really then could one hear and see that the Americans had a sizable support in the crowd. The odd chant of U-S-A could be heard, especially as the game edged on and England looked less and less likely to take out the 3 points, but all in all the English dominated…in the stands at least; on the field the same unfortunately could not be said. England were at best very average and America left the stadium the much happier team.

I had had a dream day, a chance to see the best plays battle it out in the flesh in front of one of the most passionate fans bases. Getting home at 1:30am I crashed into bed feeling very happy but still feeling terribly sorry for the English goalkeeper, oh how the press will take him to town tomorrow in the papers…