The Showdown

England. Versus. United States. Need I say more?

Well, obviously yes, or this blog would already be over.

I'm so excited. Realistic, but excited.

ORIGINAL PREDICTION: ENGLAND 3-1

FANTASY UPDATE: LANDON DONOVAN AND WAYNE ROONEY ARE STARTING. JAMIE CARRAGHER AND CLARENCE GOODSON ARE NOT.

US kicks off, and with some nerves, quickly turns the ball over. Here we go.

Early offsides on Robbie Findley who has lots of speed but little experience. We will see if his selection pans out. We need to hold on for the first fifteen minutes to let our nerves settle.

GERRARD MAKES IT 1-0 IN THE FOURTH MINUTE. MY WORST FEARS ARE REALIZED.

James Milner makes a bad challenge. Should have been a yellow card for the English winger.

We are rattled and making some bad touches. Need to pull it together.

A good passing combination gives a great chance, but Altidore can't quite bury it.

England peppers Tim Howard with a couple tough shots.

And a well-deserved yellow card on James Milner as Steve Cherundolo beats him.

These entries might be sporadic and terse, because I'm nervous. Also, I'm editing out a lot of the cursing.

We must hold on to halftime without conceding again.

Tim Howard is hurt. That's bad. Very bad. But he seems to be back up.

Our defense? Not good. As I feared.

Landon Donovan made a good shot there. We have some signs of danger.

CLINT DEMPSEY MADE TWO BRILLIANT TWISTS AND THEN SCORED WHEN ROBERT GREEN MAKES A TERRIBLE, DAVID SEAMAN-ESQUE HOWLER!

Now we can't concede again in the last five minutes. Hold on until halftime, men.

Vaughn and I just decided there should be a philosophy of Legos: "You must build your life brick by brick." Kind of like the bricks the English probably want to throw at Robert Green right now.

HALFTIME

We must stay steady, and not concede right in the first five minutes -- or at all, ideally. Dangerous time.

Findley's speed just earned us a throw in. Nice.

What a save by Tim Howard! Heskey on a breakaway, and Howard held on to it. Not even a rebound.

Robbie Findley's speed draws a yellow card foul on Carragher. His speed is causing England some problems.

Now Gerrard gets carded by a brutal foul on Dempsey. England has some card issues now.

Altidore made Carragher look old and slow. Which he is, and we almost had the lead.

But all I can say is the final result, England 1, United States 1. What an absolutely outstanding result! I did not expect it, but we looked good. Great poise and calm at the end, and we had chances to win it.