World Cup Group C preview: England v Algeria
h**l hath no fury like a nation scorned, and after a week in which Robert Green went from “that bloke who plays in goal for West Ham” to “Rob-bish”, a “calamity keeper” and a man possessing “the Hand of Clod”, England’s World Cup exploits are once again making the headlines.
They are exploits that haven’t exactly been met with universal acclaim so far.
Captain Steven Gerrard gave them the perfect start against the USA after just four minutes in Rustenburg, but a failure to extend that advantage – coupled with Green’s spectacular error – ensured that English frustration was abound on Saturday night.
That frustration should be alleviated against the Algerians, on paper at least.
The Desert Foxes were desperately poor against Slovenia in what represented their easiest match of the group, with Abdelkader Ghezzal’s somewhat comedic red card and Faouzi Chaouchi’s certainly comedic goalkeeping error summing up their afternoon in Polokwane.
That 1-0 defeat has given them a mountain to climb if they want to qualify, but now an English roadblock is in the way.
“England is one of the biggest teams in the tournament,” said Algeria coach Rabah Saâdane. “My players will not need any other motivation than they are playing against England. If my team plays against Brazil or England it is a big motivation for them.”
Whether or not Chaouchi will be afforded the chance to put that motivation to good use remains to be seen though. “We're preparing our second keeper," said Saâdane, ominously.
So Algeria seem set to drop their calamity goalkeeper, but what of Fabio Capello and England?
After Green’s week of being on the receiving end of the pointed fingers, the barbed comments and the nation’s undivided attention, the Italian must have thought about replacing him between the sticks with either Joe Hart, not so green any more after being voted in the Premier League’s team of the season for the last campaign, or David James, who hasn’t been green for well over a decade.
But dropping the West Ham stopper, if it is still appropriate to call him that after his weekend howler, would surely do irreparable damage the goalkeeper’s mental state, and Capello may be wise to stick with him, especially against opposition as weak as the Algerians.
Which moves us on to selection issues further forward, and with Capello already assuring Gareth Barry of a starting berth in midfield, what does he do with the rest of his team?
Skipper Gerrard – man of the match in central role on Saturday night – appears set to switch to the left to accommodate the change, with much of the pre-match attention focusing on who Capello will choose to partner Wayne Rooney upfront.
Emile Heskey impressed against the US, but missed a glaring opportunity, and so the extra goal threat of Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch may be called upon.
Whoever is lining up alongside him at kick off in Cape Town, Rooney is confident.
“The manager is obviously confident and I'm a confident person too,” said the forward, who hasn’t scored for England since September.
“I believe we will qualify from this group – I don't think there will be any problems about that. But the performance on Friday is not something I am too worried about. The only thing I am concerned about is winning.”
So are the English public, and after the disappointment of the USA game made them go green around the gills, this clash should provide them with welcome relief.
And a welcome three points.
http://www.senore.com/2010-World-Cup-Who-should-Fabio-Capello-start-upfront-against-Algeria-a12848
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