ALL IN THE GAME:THERE WERE sighs of relief across England in December when the group draws were made – best summed up perhaps by the Sun, which claimed it was the "best English group since the Beatles".

And, as ever with media across the water, the expectation of a smooth passage to the knock-out round was sky high before the weekend’s match against the USA.

And then? Well, that was a totally awesome strike Dempsey hit past the English goaltender.

The reaction has been swift. And amid all the “Green Fingers” and “Hand of Clod” headlines, even ex-players have been putting in the boot.

Terry Butcher, who we all know was never left looking foolish and embarrassed on a football pitch (which reminds us, Maradona’s Argentina will be be playing again on Thursday) didn’t hold back. Robert Green’s mistake was “the worst blunder I’ve ever seen by an England keeper. . . It was an absolutely horrendous mistake . . . his basic technique was found to be embarrassingly wanting.”

Former England international Graeme Le Saux also wasn’t slow off the blocks. “If he (Capello) is to drop him (Green) now, he may as well send him straight home. He will certainly not play again in this tournament, and that could even be the death knell for his international career.”

Building them up, and then knocking them down. It’s a sport almost as big as the game itself.