BY GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor
England's John Terry celebrates his goal against Jamaica during their international friendly at Old Trafford on Saturday. England won 6-0. - REUTERS
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND:
THE 'THEATRE OF DREAMS' turned into the stage for a horrible nightmare as Jamaica gave up four first half goals on their way to a humiliating 6-0 thrashing by England here on Saturday.
The best crowd for a football international at Old Trafford - 70,373 - witnessed a brash display by England that essentially ended the first ever match between the two countries just after the half hour mark as the home team stamped their superiority on the final warm-up game before the World Cup.
In a match that started in brilliant, warm sunshine and a cool wind that gently fluttered the hundreds of English and Jamaican flags, and with a roaring crowd of Jamaican supporters gathered at the famous stadium's east or 'Scoreboard End' eager to celebrate a major upset, the Reggae Boyz came out confident and aggressive.
Yet they never found a solution for England's clinical, organised display and struggled under a barrage of set plays, which featured long raking passes aimed primarily at 6' 7" hat trick scorer Peter Crouch up front.
Publicly, England had stated that they scheduled the Jamaica game to get a feel for the Caribbean playing style they expect to face against Trinidad and Tobago in the World Cup. But at least one commentator said Jamaica was chosen to give England an easy opponent to ensure goal scoring opportunities before they began a run for football's biggest prize.
Whatever the reasons, on a perfect day for football the Reggae Boyz themselves failed on their own promise not to be embarrassed by the world power in what Jamaica billed as a match-up between colonialists and their former subjects.
"I think we showed them too much respect, especially in the first half," technical director Wendell Downswell admitted after the game. "I don't know if it was the occasion as such. I wouldn't say intimidated because we started out quite positive."
Sven-Goran Eriksson, who steps down from the job after the World Cup, scored his biggest win ever Saturday in more than five years as England coach. Yet he agreed that Jamaica startled the home team in the opening exchanges.
"I think Jamaica started the first 15 minutes very, very strong," Eriksson said.
That did not prevent England from drawing first blood, and the rout was on early. In the 11th minute target man Crouch headed a long pass into the path of strike partner Michael Owen. His overhead flick was met by onrushing and unmarked midfielder Frank Lampard who slammed past Donovan Ricketts in Jamaica's goal.
SHATTERED
The lead doubled five minutes later, even as Jamaica showed flashes of confidence, moving the ball about in a bright start woefully missing from Monday's defeat against Ghana.
If Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United nicknamed the 'Theatre of Dreams', wanted a show, Jamaica seemed ready to provide it. But that hope was shattered when Joe Cole was chopped down on the wing and advancing John Terry forced a defensive deflection from a swerving David Beckham free kick inside the near post for what was ruled an own goal.
But Jamaica had a great chance to hit back. Terry misplayed a high ball which Jason Euell collected. But the midfielder's powerful shot drew a brilliant save from England's goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
The home team moved further ahead in the 29th minute. Crouch sliced a right foot shot into the net from captain Beckham's inswinging service on England's first corner. Three minutes later Owen ran on to a lofted forward pass, beat Jamaica's futile off-side appeals, and then the advancing Ricketts, before slotting into the empty goal.
From then, England, now established as masters on the day, essentially called off the dogs, turning to a steady stream of precautionary substitutions. But Jamaica still had a bit of bite left, even as England dominated wide open spaces in midfield. The Boyz created - and squandered - several chances approaching the break. Euell sent Luton Shelton clear, but with only Robinson to beat from an angle, the forward shot wide. Shelton would again miss badly in injury time, booting high from straight in front of goal.
Yet it was his strike partner Ricardo Fuller who could have capped the half with a bang. Fuller collected a ball in midfield, impressively turned Lampard into the ground, but then shot agonisingly wide of the upright.
TRICKY MIDFIELDER
At half-time, Jamaica switched formations and stepped up a gear. They abandoned the pair of holding midfielders and settled for Euell in that role. Shane Crawford replaced ineffective Jermaine Taylor and pressed more in attack. Shortly after, Deon Burton replaced Shelton and playmaking midfielder Jermaine Hue started to take more control, demanding the ball and dictating Jamaica's tempo.
In one fluid counter attack Fuller collected a pass laid off by Burton and spread wide to Jamal Campbell-Ryce on the right. The tricky midfielder, who was among Jamaica's best all day, skipped by a defender, but England scrambled his teasing cross away from the goalmouth to concede a corner.
But just when Jamaica had started to get back into the flow, England scored again. Beckham sent Jamie Carragher down the wing and the right back's low cross was met firmly by Crouch unmarked at the far post.
With Jamaica now battling to stay competitive, England missed a great chance to go further ahead. A clumsy challenge by substitute Khari Stephenson on Owen was ruled a penalty, but Crouch lazily lofted the spot kick over the crossbar. Yet the beanpole giant was not done, capping the scoring with a clinical finish after being cleverly set up by Owen.
If Jamaica had intended to force respect from their former colonial rulers, they got instead a spanking with tactical discipline. They also saw a close-up of Beckham, among the world's most famous footballers, who will likely play his final World Cup this month.
"You're up against a well schooled team in terms of free kicks, then you have probably the best dead ball kicker in the world (in Beckham)," Downswell said. "It is not an easy thing to defend against."
Neither were England at the 'Theatre of Dreams'.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
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