Robert Green has pledged to keep working hard after the honour of being named England's starting goalkeeper at the FIFA World Cup was soured by an uncharacteristic mistake.
The West Ham United No1 was named in Fabio Capello's first eleven to face the United States and saw his side get off to a perfect start with Steven Gerrard's sweetly-taken opener on four minutes. However, Green was at fault just before half-time when he allowed Clint Dempsey's speculative effort to slip through his grasp and over the line. It finished 1-1, placing extra emphasis on the second Group C game against Algeria next Friday night.
Green said: "Clint has hit one and it is one that I should have saved, full stop. It was thoroughly disappointing. It is something that has happened. I have to not let it affect me. The most important thing is that I had 50 odd minutes to play in the game and represent my country and make sure it didn't happen again.
"Thankfully I did that and didn't let it affect my performance. It was about mental strength. Worse things have happened to people. It is about carrying on and working for the team and doing as well as you can from then on."
Despite several decent opportunities, England were unable to regain the lead and a scrappy end to the game at altitude in Rustenburg saw both sides struggle to maintain the intensity of the first half. Green recovered well from the Dempsey goal and indeed saved England a point with his superb one-handed save from Jozy Altidore in the second half.
"It was one of those games where we have created enough chances to win it," he added when speaking to the BBC. "It is immensely disappointing not to win the game but we take comfort from the chances we have created.
"Another day we could have won it a few to nil. Football is decided at both ends of the pitch. That is something we can learn from today. Steve scored a great goal. It was a good team goal. It looked good on the eye."
With backing from his manager Capello, who restated his faith in his keeper in his own press briefings, Green is looking to put the Dempsey goal behind him as quickly as possible.
"It is done. It happens. It is not something to let affect yourself. In the next 50 minutes I showed that. I felt confident, I felt fine. It is about being steady and taking the rough with the smooth that is life as a goalkeeper.
"I am 30 years old, I have been in sticky situations before. It is about holding your head up high. Coming out and taking the flak that is going to come and so be it. That is life and i wouldn't swap it for the world.
"I will come back, work hard in training and prepare as though I am playing in the next game. I want to carry on playing, stand up and represent my country."
Matthew Upson was an unused substitute, although central defender Ledley King is likely to miss the Algeria contest after coming off at half-time. Jamie Carragher was the man chosen to replace King alongside John Terry. Jonathan Spector remained on the bench for the United States.