World Cup: …and breathe

So the disaster was averted.  The flight home can wait until next week at least.  England 1 – 0 Slovenia.

England were much better, without quite looking like world beaters but it will do, and finish as runners up in Group C after USA scored a 92nd minute winner against Algeria.

Suddenly the mood has shifted again.  From the downright gloom and gallows humour of the last 5 days, England have found a way to get themselves back on track.  Fabio Capello is the world’s greatest manager again, John Terry is no longer a traitor, Wayne Rooney was cheered to the rafters and everything is well.

But Donovan’s late show could prove to be significant for England, it’s potential yield being Germany, Argentina and Spain or Brazil if they are to reach the final.  I guess, after seeming as though it was all falling apart, we will accept it gleefully all the same.

Fabio Capello can rightfully feel vindicatied over his tactical decisions in this tournament, as his choices of James Milner and Jermain Defoe in place of Aaron Lennon and Emile Heskey paid off, the two combining for the goal.

Steven Gerrard showed the tactical discipline that was missing against Algeria, drifting inside far more selectively and providing a better shape to the midfield as a result.  The passing was vastly improved, and England’s long passes also showed more creativity, as they had to in the absence of Heskey.  One raking 60 yard pass by Glenn Johnson to trigger Rooney on the counter was a particular highlight.

Rooney himself was also improved, without pulling up trees, but there was a slight concern again over his fitness and he was replaced in the 2nd half.  Not before he had forced a wonderful save from the outstanding Samir Handanovic, just getting enough of his fingers to Rooney’s shot to deflect it onto the post.

And what of England’s Knight in Shining Armour?  There was no start for St. Joe Cole, and his substitute appearance showed why that was as he struggled to make an impact.  When things are going badly, it is always the player who is left out who’s reputation increases, and here was another example.

The evidence for the prosecution – his late season form for Chelsea and subsequent release and the rapid denial of interest from Old Trafford – was discarded in favour of the grass-is-greener absent-hero syndrome to which the English media succumb every time.  Once again, they were proved to be wrong.

The end of the match was as tense as we have come to expect – defending deeper and conceding space, last ditch tackles and an extraordinary effort by John Terry to block a goal bound shot with his face.  Understandably, the ball felt justified in choosing an alternate target, but still England survived.

So England have finally made some kind of impact on the tournament other than the soggy lettuce variety, and will play again on Sunday in the “round of 16″ as FIFA like to call it.  For the nation’s fans, the joy and torture can continue a while longer.