Even before the injury to Rio Ferdinand that cost them their captain and best centre-half, it seemed England’s defence and goalkeeper might be their biggest weakness. Robert Green’s glaring error as he somehow allowed  a soft Clint Dempsey shot to trickle through him was the most stunning image of the game; but if he is not world class, neither are his potential replacements, David  James and Joe Hart.

As many expected, Ledley King’s knees proved unable to cope with the pressures of a World Cup campaign, leaving the third-choice Jamie Carragher to partner John Terry. The Americans began badly but Oguchi Onyewu, who had played once in nine months, proved himself the best centre-half on either side and but for the post the Americans might have won