Fabio Capello must be a worried man. A goalless draw against Algeria was probably not the ideal 64th birthday present he was expecting on Friday.
The Green Point Stadium in Cape Town was decked in white and red as England supporters came out in numbers to spur on their side. England were touted as one of the favourites prior to the tournament’s kick off, but their display against the USA attracted severe criticism.
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The expected change made by the England boss was the inclusion of David James as the shot stopper in place of Green after his howler against the Americans that robbed England of two vital points. Capello also opted for Carragher at the back in place of the injured King. One wonders when and if Joe Cole will get a start for the three lions, with Capello once again opting to go with Heskey up-front, alongside Wayne Rooney.
The game started with neither side being able to get a foothold in the opening stages. England did manage to create a few chances early on, but it was obvious that Algeria were not going to sit deep and defend. The Algerians kept waiting to pounce on every possible break, even winning a corner in the 8th minute that was eventually, poorly taken.
It was by no means an all England show in the opening quarter. Algeria continued to hold their own in the first half, as it remained goalless at the break.
Contrary to what many would have hoped to see, it was Algeria who showed early signs of improvement in the second half.England went really close to netting the opening goal of the game in the 55th minute, when Gerrard was sent clear into the box by Lampard. But, in a show of lack of confidence, the England captain tried a clever pull-back, rather than going for the shot at goal. Would he have done the same for Liverpool? There is only one answer to that question.
Then came a surprising move by Capello. The Italian brought on Wright-Phillips for Lennon, who had so far been the lone spark in the England side.
Capello’s desperation for a goal seemed evident as he brought on Defoe for a tired Heskey in the 74th minute to join a dispirited Rooney on the forward line. And the change brought some much need energy on the pitch with England winning to corners in the space of five minutes. However, they failed to convert both.
Peter Crouch was summoned as the final throw of the dice, replacing Gareth Barry in the 84th. Meanwhile, England kept piling on the pressure and white shirts camped on the edge of the Algerian box.
However, it all came down to nothing as a hapless England were booed off the pitch by their own fans for failing to rise to the occasion. Algeria’s well earned point keeps them alive in the tournament.
Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and all the other stalwarts of English football need to be shaken into life and will now have to get their act together when they face Slovenia in a must win tie in their last game of the group stages.
