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Crisis talk is ridiculous - Johnson

Glen Johnson was one of England's better performers against the USA © Getty Images

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Comment: Capello should shoulder blame

Glen Johnson has hit out at "ridiculous" claims that England are in crisis following a 1-1 draw with the USA in their World Cup opener.

England failed to live up to their tag as one of the pre-tournament favourites as they toiled against their less-celebrated opponents - despite taking a fourth-minute lead through Steven Gerrard.

The underwhelming performance was followed by the damaging news that defender Ledley King, who was withdrawn at half-time against the USA, could be set to miss the rest of the tournament with a groin injury.

But Johnson, one of few players to emerge from the opening clash with praise, insists that the camp have not been affected by these setbacks ahead of crucial fixtures against Algeria and Slovenia.

"It's ridiculous to think we're in crisis," Johnson said. "The spirit is still good. The boys will stick firmly together through anything. That's behind us now, we didn't lose the game and now we go onto the next one."

Former captain John Terry was in similarly defiant mood, putting goalkeeper Robert Green's gaffe - he let Clint Dempsey's tame shot slip through his gloves and into the net - down to bad luck.

However, Terry does concede that England must play in a more ruthless manner if they are to progress to the latter stages of the tournament.

"We have to tell ourselves our bad luck is out of the way early because otherwise we'd sit here beating ourselves up about it," Terry said.

"Now we have to go out at full intensity against Algeria and I'm going to stress the need to crack on, get the ball back off them and score the second and third goals to kill the game."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.