2010 FIFA World Cup troubles for Three Lions
It has not been a very good start to the Three Lion’s 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign. Even before they kicked a ball in the competition, their inspirational captain Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United was ruled out due to a freak injury. Then in their opening game his replacement, Ledley King of Tottenham hotspurs, limped off at half-time holding his groin, and to add to the misery Rob Green’s howler gifted the Yanks their equalizer.
England have been handed a fairly easy and straightforward draw but if the current circumstances continue to prevail they will make a mockery of themselves. Having drawn against the United States they now have two remaining fixtures against a tricky Algeria and the second against Slovenia who are the only team in their group with all 3 points.
Scans have revealed that Ledley King is not likely to play any further part in this world cup having torn a muscle in his groin and doctors fears that the injury is likely to keep the central defender out for at least 3 weeks.
King would remain under assessment by the Capello’s medical team but the manager has confirmed that the defender has torn an abductor muscle in his groin. King complained of tightness in his groin shortly after Steven Gerrard opened the scoring in the game early on but continued to play on till the breather where he was replaced by Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher.
Although, the injury suffered by the defender is in no way related to the chronic knee problem that kept him out of almost the whole season last year. The initial assessment by Capello to say that the defender is only likely to miss England’s next game against Algeria is overly optimistic.
Clouds of uncertainty loom over the English back four. In their last 25 games under Capello they have only kept 7 clean sheets and only one in the last 10, couple that with Green’s error on Saturday and the heart of English defence can only be termed in shambles at best.
Green’s performances will be under heavy scrutiny in training over the next few days and before the manager takes any decision against the West Ham man.Although no decision has been made final yet but with the presence of James and Foster in the squad Capello should have no qualms in axing the West Ham keeper should he and his psychologist, Christian Lattanzio decide that Green is still showing strain and stress over the mistake that gifted the United States a cheap equalizer and cost England a full three points.
It is going to be a critical decision for the England manager to decide if he decides to give Green another chance. With a new partner for John Terry set to take the field against Algeria on the 18th of June, any disharmony in defence for England can prove to be fatal for their hopes of winning the World Cup.
Fabio’s alternatives in goal are Manchester City’s Jo Hart, who despite having put in decent performances in the season during his loan spell at Birmingham is still considered inexperienced at the highest level. David James of Portsmouth, who despite having loads of experience at the international level, has his own history of making some high profile fatal errors on international duty.
Discarding Green at this time would surely have a detrimental effect on his moral and confidence and could see his chances of pulling on an England shirt in the future all but vanish.
But for now the England manager will be pondering on who to partner with Terry, it will be either Micheal Dawson of Spurs or the experienced head of Jamie Carragher. Whoever it will be the situation is not at all rosy for the English Three Lions.
Tags: