12-10-2019, 08:22 AM
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- England and Honduras drew 0-0 in a fiery and physical final World Cup warm-up match that saw Honduras defender Brayan Beckeles sent off at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday. The weather was as wild as some of the action on the pitch in Miami Gardens, with the game halted midway through the first half for 45 minutes due to a lightning storm. England struggled to create scoring chances even with a man advantage, and the pressure will grow for Ross Barkley to start in Brazil after the 20-year-old midfielder raised the tempo when he came on at half time. "If you look at the chances we had the better, but were quite frustrated," captain Steven Gerrard said. "The ref was poor, the game was interrupted, there was a big one in the first half and they were doing stupid fouls. There was no rhythm. Were frustrated but relieved at no injuries. "There were some horrific tackles for a friendly. I got caught with a bad one." Beckeles, who had been booked for a lunge on Danny Welbeck, was shown a second yellow card in the 66th minute after catching Leighton Baines face with his elbow. "The lesson is we cant play with 10, we need to be more careful," Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez said through a translator. Honduras kicks off its World Cup campaign next Sunday against France, a day after England opens against Italy. The hot and humid conditions were exactly what England came to Miami for, but not the storm that worsened during the opening 20 minutes. Before the disruption, Wayne Rooneys free kick was spilled by Noel Valladares but no England player was primed to exploit the goalkeepers shakiness. And, when Rooney set up Daniel Sturridge, the striker struck wide on the turn. Warning messages flashed up on stadium big screens urging fans to first leave their uncovered seats, and then for the players to go off the pitch. "We were just about to slice through them and it was a great relief for them when the rain came," England goalkeeper Joe Hart said. When they returned, Emilio Izaguirre was fortunate not to be sent off for tripping Sturridge and then kicking the striker as he was on the ground. The defender was only booked by Ricardo Salazar. "I dont understand refs seeing balls slammed into players chests," Gerrard said. "Its a clear red card." England was more threatening after the break when Rooney and captain Gerrard were replaced by the youthful legs of Barkley and Jack Wilshere. Barkley quickly unleashed a shot from outside the penalty area, and later burst forward unchallenged to feed Sturridge, who chipped wide. It was surprising that it took until the 66th for a red card to be shown, but England could not exploit its man advantage. Although Barkley was adding energy and pace with his runs, Sturridge squandered another opening when he headed wide from Glen Johnsons cross. "It was a real stop-start game, one of the most frustrating Ive been involved in for a long time," England coach Roy Hodgson said. "We had a long stoppage, I thought we dealt with it and in the second half it was attack vs. defence. "They got their men behind the ball and we didnt take our chances. We attempted to make them but this is a game I will soon forget. I will take the draw and that we got away without injuries and that we have experience against Central American opposition." Air Force 1 Replica . -- Two out of three aint bad. Air Force 1 Store . Joel Embiid was nearly unstoppable in the paint in the second half, and Naadir Tharpe seemingly couldnt miss. https://www.cheapairforce1outlet.com/ . - Whether its because of her improved play or the reason for it, Michelle Wie appears as comfortable on and off the golf course as at any time in her career. Air Force 1 Cheap . -- Coyotes coach Dave Tippett thinks of one thing when he watches Eastern Conference teams struggle against Western opponents before they get to Phoenix: His team must keep pace. Air Force 1 High Outlet .J. -- Rampage Jackson scowled, howled, then bellowed to the crowd: "Im back! Im back!" With rebuilt knees and a new promotion, Jackson might have one more act left in MMA.New Zealand look the complete one-day outfit under the inspirational leadership of Brendon McCullum, says Mark Butcher. The Black Caps got their World Cup campaign off to an emphatic start with a 98-run victory over Sri Lanka at Christchurchs Hagley Oval on Saturday.McCullum plundered 65 off 49 balls to set the tone for a dominant batting display, putting on 111 with Martin Guptill for the first wicket before Kane Williamson (57) and Corey Anderson (75 off 46 balls) picked up the big-hitting mantle. A half-century from Corey Anderson helped New Zealand to a 98 run win over Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup. But it was McCullum who caught the eye of former England opener Butcher, who said: He has such self-belief, such self-confidence. The pitch was meant to be a little bit tacky. There had been some rain around, the weather was bad.He just decided OK, there’s a length that I dont want Sri Lanka to bowl and if they bowl it there, Im running at it and attacking it.Lasith Malinga was a little of colour because he’s been out of the game for a long time but McCullum gives the bowlers nightmares because you know that if you let that ball go and it doesn’t go exactly where you want it to, he’s going to punish you.The way he captains the team is fabulous as well - he must instil so much confidence in his players because he always backs them to do the aggressive thing.New Zealand have got the bases covered so well. Anderson is left-arm, medium quick – he perfectly complements the likes of Tim Southee. Watch this stunning one-handed catch from a fan during the Sri Lanka v New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup.dddddddddddd They’ve got the left-armers of Trent Boult, they’ve got off-spin in Nathan McCullum if they choose to pick him. The evergreen Daniel Vettori is bowling brilliantly again.They look the complete outfit at the moment. There were questions, I suppose, about how they would handle being fancied as opposed to being dark horses. On the evidence of their win over Sri Lanka, it isn’t bothering them one bit.Anderson was named man-of-the-match after adding figures of 2-18 to his brutal innings, which featured eight fours and two sixes.Sky Sports pundit Bob Willis hailed his contribution, saying: He’s an extraordinary player. He’s just appeared on the scene out of nowhere. It was only that incredible innings by AB de Villiers in Johannesburg that deprived Anderson of the fastest century in one-day international cricket. There’s nothing to say that he won’t beat that in this competition. He’s a superb all-round cricketer, particularly in the one-day format.You’ve got to remember that New Zealand’s cricketers are all the time in the shadow of the All Blacks rugby team – it’s much more difficult to express yourself as a cricketer.But hats off to Brendon McCullum. You don’t have to think back too far to the disarray that New Zealand were in with Vettori giving up the captaincy and Ross Taylor being given the job and that being taken away from him.So it was a very, very delicate situation when Brendon McCullum came in and tried to galvanise this team with all the distractions of T20 cricket going on around the world.Watch New Zealand take on Scotland in Mondays Group A clash at 10pm on Sky Sports World Cup. Dont miss our live preview show before then, starting at 9pm. ' ' '