Aston Villa Central

There were four, possibly five, Villans involved as England drew 2-2 with Switzerland and the United States were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Spain yesterday. Darren Bent and Eric Lichaj started for their sides, Ashley Young and Michael Bradley entered their games at half time and Stewart Downing made a late appearance for England and almost won it with the final kick of the game.

England 2 Switzerland 2

England gifted Switzerland a two goal head start with some comedic set piece defending that made Aston Villa’s approach over the last season look positively immaculate. Rio Ferdinand’s missed header for the first allowed the ball to evade everyone and sneak in at the far post. James Milner, forming a two man wall with Theo Walcott, inexplicably decided to take a step inside leaving the ball an unhindered path to the near post for the second.

Jack Wilshere won a penalty shortly before the break and Frank Lampard just about managed to put it away before being replaced by Young for the second half. Ash joined Bent up front in a return to a 4-4-2 and instantly brought a new dimension to England’s approach.

Ash restored the status quo with an exceptionally well struck shot from just inside the area from Leighton Baines’ clever chest down. Bent later missed a completely open goal following up on Ash’s well saved shot. Downing came close to winning it at the death, but found only the side netting.

As Ash repeats several times in the post match interview below, on another day those chances would have gone in and England would have gone on to win the game. I know, insightful stuff.

Tunnel Cam

Slightly more interesting than footballers’ clichés and inanity is the behind the scenes video recorded from the tunnel:

Well I find these videos interesting anyway. Suit yourself.

USA 0 Spain 4

Bob Bradley’s side hosted the world champions in a warm up game in Boston ahead of the 2011 Gold Cup which begins today in Dallas. Bradley senior sent a mostly weakened side out to face a mostly weakened Spanish side and was mostly soundly beaten.

The Yanks went into the break 3-0 down, but would have been grateful for an incorrect offside flag, which chalked off one goal, and the woodwork, which came to Tim Howard’s rescue on two occasions. It could easily have been 6-0 with 45 minutes left to play.

Eric Lichaj played the full game, but at left back and looked, frankly, pretty uncomfortable during the first 45 minutes as the Americans struggled to get themselves into the game in any credible fashion.

Michael Bradley, who may or may not be a Villan, came on after the break and the hosts looked like a different unit, although Spain more than likely relaxed a little, not wanting to humiliate their hosts.

Bradley junior, like Ash at Wembley, improved his side’s fortunes, crafting the American’s only decent chance worthy of the name with an inch perfect long ball threaded through the middle of the park. Nevertheless, Fernando Torres, on as a substitute, grabbed a fourth goal and that’s about as humiliating as it gets these days, right West Ham fans?

The United States have Gold Cup group stage games to play against Canada, Panama and Guadeloupe, with the first on Tuesday. Michael Bradley will definitely be involved heavily, Lichaj will probably need to reply on appearances from the bench.

Should they make it to the final at the Rose Bowl, they’ll be kept busy up to June 25th; we should keep that in mind during pre-season. All the other Aston Villa players are free to enjoy their holidays now.

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