Efficient:

England cruised to an uninspiring 3-1 win after a lacklustre second half display from the visitors that is sure to displease their boss Javier Aguirre. The Mexicans played the more attractive football and were unlucky to go in trailing at half time. Their fortune was summed up in the tenth minute when Ricardo Osorio broke free on the right flank and delivered an inviting cross that eluded both Carlos Vela and the veteran Guille Franco.

 

A few minutes later Steven Gerrard required treatment for a head wound after being clattered from behind by Efraín Juárez. Had it not been a friendly, Juárez would probably have received a yellow card – he would have deserved it. Gerrard required a couple of minutes to be patched up. It was worth it as Liverpoolʼs talisman took the corner that carved open the Mexican defence.

 

Peter Crouch nodded the the ball back to Ledley King whose glancing header gave goalkeeper Óscar Pérez no chance after seventeen minutes. King had only scored once before for England. Chronic knee problems had curtailed his opportunities – it was his first international for three years. He completed the ninety minutes and committed only one foul.

The goal brought England to life. Five minutes later Wayne Rooney left Osorio trailing in his wake at the halfway line. It required a well timed intervention by Francisco Javier Rodríguez to deny him a shot on goal. Nevertheless, Mexico created the better chances. Just before the half hour mark Juárez carved England open with ease, and left Arsenalʼs Carlos Vela with just Robert Green to beat. Vela should have done better. Green saved well with right hand, but shouldnʼt have had chance. Shortly afterwards Carlos Salcido curled his shot from edge of area, but hit the post.

 

Philosophy:

Mexico created more chances, had more shots including on target, but England were more efficient. “I donʼt think we were worse than England in passing,” said Aguirre. “They were more effective. They converted chances. That᾽s the difference. England deserves the victory. All defeats hurt. We lost – we put up a great performance, but we can never be happy with defeat. We will look at the video.”

 

Mexicoʼs domination counted for nothing as against the run of play Gerrard broke free on the left flank and delivered an inch perfect cross for Rooney. Pérez parried superbly, but Crouch challenged for the rebound – it hit his arm and went in. He also looked off-side, but the goal was given. Aguirre had no complaint apart from his side᾽s defending. “The first goal we couldn᾽t do anything about,” said Aguirre; the second and third we could have done more about. I᾽m happy on one hand, but unhappy on the manner we conceded goals. We aim to get to the level England got to.”

 

England looked to set to go into the break two goals up, which would have been an injustice, but in injury time a Juárez corner was headed forward by Rafa Márquez and Vela mishit a flick on the six yard box, which was parried by Green and but his club colleague Guille Franco bundled it in to halve the deficit

 

The match was over as a contest within two minutes of the restart. Franco went off injured at half time. Theo Walcott was clipped near the touchline, but managed to poke the ball into the path of Glen Johnson whose mazy run did not result in a challenge or block, which disappointed Aguirre. On the edge of the area Johnson – later to be named Man of the Match – curled an unstoppable left footed effort into the top corner. With an hour gone Giovani dos Santos broke free on the right flank, but his cross eluded everybody, although Manchester United bound Javier Hernández appeared to be impeded in the penalty area.

 

The rest of the match was subdued, although substitute Pablo Barreraʼs seventy-sixth minute cross suffered the same fate as dos Santos and Osorio had previously – going across the goal without getting the final touch it cried out for. Despite the defeat Aguirre found some positives. “First and foremost we have played like that on every occasion,” he said. “We wonʼt vary style whether in Wembley, Azteca or South Africa. We keep our style and try same thing in Johannesburg.”

 

Aguirre was satisfied that Mexico was on course to achieve their goals in South Africa. “Itʼs going to be hard tough for us,” he said. The first game is the most important I ever coach. We have our chances. Itʼs open group, France, Uruguay, South Africa and Mexico; weʼre on same level. We have to put our best effort in.” However, England had the satisfaction of leaving Wembley on a winning note.

 

Satisfaction:

But Capello was satisfied. “I learned a lot from this game,” he said. “We have to press more. For me it is very important to press the ball. We are focused on the USA.” Capello confirmed that Ledley King who seemed to struggle to keep pace with the match would not play in the final friendly against Japan, but would be part of England᾽s plans for the World Cup. “I decided he [King] had to play all the game,” said Capello. “I think he is good player. He is important player.”

 

The Italian found speculation linking him to the Inter job if as expected José Mourinho leaves for Real Madrid after winning the treble, following Barcelona᾽s last season, amusing. “It᾽s good for me but I remain focused on World Cup,” he said.

 

The Saviours:

Javier Aguirre was controversially axed as Atlético de Madrid boss, but it worked out well for both club and coach. Atletico went on to win the inaugural Europa League Final. The former Valencia tactician Quique Sánchez Flores led Atlético to glory over surprise package Fulham in Hamburg, while Aguirre rescued Mexican football from the abyss.

 

Hugo Sánchez was Mexico᾽s greatest player, but his coaching skills left more than a little to be desired. Bizarrely, the Mexicans turned to Sven-Göran Eriksson. The Swede failed and his departure was greeted with celebrations in the land of the Aztecs. Aguirre had a stiff task, but he instilled belief into the team. They qualified for the World Cup. Eriksson will be there too, but not on merit.

 

England had a similar story. In November 2007 Slaven Bilić᾽s Croatian team secured a famous 3-2 win that cost England the chance to go to Euro 2008. Steve McClaren was sacked and England turned to a foreign coach again - Fabio Capello. The Italian had an early chance of revenge – Croatia was drawn in the same group. He instilled a winning mentality in the team and England qualified impressively for the World Cup.

 

Meanwhile, McClaren had to seek work abroad. He succeeded Fred Rutten as coach of Twente Enschede. Rutten failed at Schalke and moved back to the Netherlands to coach PSV Eindhoven, but McClaren had the last laugh. Twente were crowned Eredivisie champions this season.

 

Capello could afford a smile too. He was rewarded with the sack by Real Madrid despite winning the league title after a gap of a few years, because his style of play was not popular. His departure was greeted with a treble by rivals Barcelona, who retained the league title playing the type of football the Madrid faithful craved.