Rob Green: 'I don't often miss ball by that much'

(REUTERS)

England's manager Fabio Capello was unexpectedly upbeat after last night's disappointing draw, insisting: "We played a good match and created lots of chances. I saw [for] another time the spirit of the team, fighting every time to win the ball. I am not worried about the physical condition for the next match this week because in the second half we ran better than the USA." Of Green's error, Capello said: "Sometimes keepers make mistakes. The ball moves a lot. In the second half Robert Green played very well. But the mistake remains a mistake."

Green said: "It was a mistake. The important thing in the game is to not let it affect you for the [rest of the game], however long is left. That is what you are meant to prepare for mentally. You prepare for trauma. That certainly happened today, it's one that is regrettable. But that's life and you work hard, hold your head up high and get working in training.

"For the next 50 minutes in the game you make sure it doesn't happen again. That's the preparation that you do, and you stand up to be counted."

The bookmakers, having immediately lengthened the odds on England winning the World Cup to 8-1, installed David James as favourite to start against Algeria, although the level-headed Green does not believe he will suffer any great psychological damage.

"I'm 30 years old," he said. "You've got to have a concrete head about these things. It's going to bring up issues but I'm strong enough to take it, I'm strong enough to move on. I will do and be ready for the next game if selected. I'm sure at a younger point in my life it would have affected me more and it has in the past. But once it was done, you turn round, pick the ball out of the back of the net and move on."

What was more debatable was if the new and much criticised adidas ball played any part. "It may well have moved," Green said. "I don't often miss the ball by that much. But it's not an excuse."

US goalkeeper Tim Howard, and England's goalscorer Steven Gerrard, were both sympathetic. "As we've been saying all week, the ball's been doing silly things," said Gerrard. "I feel sympathy for him of course, but goalkeepers have to have broad shoulders," added Howard.