Andy Carroll's first goal for his country and Gary Cahill's impressive audition for the big time were the two standout performances at Wembley
1 Andy Carroll
A momentous match for the striker, who in his second international appearance scored a first goal for his country. It was an impressive finish, with the 22-year-old hitting a firm drive past the Ghana goalkeeper, Richard Kingson, into the far corner of the net. The relief was clear for a player who has somewhat become burdened with expectation since his �35m move from Newcastle United to Liverpool in January and has not been able to show his best form as he continues to recover from a thigh injury. That much was also evident at Wembley as, his goal apart, Carroll looked short of the sharpness that persuaded Liverpool to spend so much on him, but he continued to toil as the spearhead of England's three-man attack until he was replaced on 59 minutes. Winner
2 Gareth Barry
Perhaps it was no surprise that on the day when he captained England for the first time, the 30-year-old should display some early nerves. Barry's assignment was to protect England's defence but as the first half drew on it was the player himself who needed guidance. The midfielder was sloppy in possession and showed a lack of assurance that was remarkable for a player earning his 45th cap. Twice before the interval the Manchester City midfielder missed with two robust tackles, the first of which, on Sulley Muntari, allowed Ghana to develop their most sustained period of possession of the first 45 minutes. Just prior to that, he also slipped in the box and appeared to have given possession away to Muntari only for the referee to deem that Barry had been pushed by Gyan prior to the incident. The stand-in captain's performance did improve in the second half, with his passing in particularly becoming more assured, but this was not a performance that will guarantee his return to Fabio Capello's first-choice side. Loser
3 Gary Cahill
This was in some ways an audition for the 25-year-old given he is expected to leave Bolton Wanderers in the summer and join one of the Premier League's elite sides. On his third appearance for England, and on his first start, Cahill served notice of his potential as a defender of high class. Given England were facing a team with one recognised striker in Asamoah Gyan, it can be argued that this was never going to be a true test of Cahill's credentials, but he did what he had to well. There were two eye?catching tackles, one that left the Udinese midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah strewn on the turf and another that prevented Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu from having a shot on goal. It was a perfectly timed sliding tackle and capped an encouraging display. Winner
4 Leighton Baines
It will take a monumental effort by any player to dislodge Ashley Cole as England's first?choice left-back and in that sense there is little Baines could have done here to have propelled himself from understudy to genuine contender for a starting place in Capello's regular side. Nevertheless, this was a chance for the 26-year-old to push ahead of the other contenders to back up Cole and he will deem he did not do enough. Initially the player provided incisive width, pushing Ghana's John Pantsil further back. But as this contest developed the player become increasingly peripheral in an attacking sense. Defensively, too, there was also moments of indecisiveness. It was not a terrible display by the Everton full-back, but it was not an eye-catching one.Loser
5 Stewart Downing
The left?winger may not have appreciated having to start this match on the right of England's attack but there was no sulking from the 26-year-old. Instead he delivered one of his most encouraging displays for the national side, and was rightly named man of the match. There was a willingness from Downing to drive down the line as well as cut inside on to his left foot and indeed it was a central area that the Aston Villa player set up Carroll for England's only goal. The player timed his run from deep perfectly to stay onside and intercept Ashley Young's through pass before nudging the ball into the path of Carroll who finished with aplomb. A curling free-kick from the player that drifted over the bar also showed his capabilities from set-pieces. Winner
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/mar/29/england-ghana-winners-losers
Amir Khan Mark Zuckerberg John Barnes Lee Carsley Tim Cahill England cricket team
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