FIFA World Cup 2010 : England Draw Against Algeria

iSporter Chirag Mansukhani reports on England's tame draw against Algeria in a Group C FIFA World Cup encounter.

Wayne Rooney

Agony For England As The Three Lions Fail Yet Again!!!

The match against Algeria was a rather important one for England especially after they opened their world cup campaign with a draw against the USA.

Going into the match Fabio Capello had rung in the changes. The change that stood out was the rather obvious change in goal. Robert Green was demoted to the bench after his abysmal mistake which saw him turn a scarlet red. Gareth Barry made a return after six weeks of injury while Jamie Carragher started in central defense in place of the injured Ledley King. Much to my surprise Capello kept his faith in Emile Heskey alongside Wayne Rooney.

It turned out to be a disappointing first half for Fabio Capello and his band of merry men. There were no more than a couple of chances for England throughout the first half as they failed to make any clear inroads into the Algerian defense. Towards the end of the half though England did seem to pick up the pace and appeared to be getting into some kind of rhythm. Capello left the field with a rather grim look on his face at the end of the half.

Algeria certainly were the happier team after the first fourty five as they survived the half with England doing little to threaten their goal. Algeria on the other hand also had a couple of chances at goal and the English defense looked shaky in the first few minutes of the game atleast.

England came out in the second half showing a lot of promise and finally some intent was seen from the English which would have been a definite sigh of relief to any English fan.

England definitely seemed to be out of sorts and were in need of an experienced hand. How one wishes David Beckham was available and not just a mere spectator from the bench. To make matters worse Carragher was booked around the 58th minute mark and will now miss the next match as a result.

Carragher who was booked in the previous game as well will have to suffer this one match penalty. With King injured and Ferdinand who was the first choice central defender ruled out of the world cup before it started Capello now has another headache, the only silver lining if there is any is that Dawson who is the likely replacement has been in fine form for his club.

Wright Philips was brought on to try and influence the game although what impact he would have if any remained to be seen. By this time the game was approaching the seventieth minute and time seemed to be running against the English.

Wright Philips strung a pass to Gerrard who lay it to Heskey giving England a rare sight at goal. Finally there seemed to be a sense of urgency from England.

Come the 73rd minute and Capello sent Defoe on, who I personally think should have started alongside Rooney and I feared that Capello may have brought him on too late. Crouch came on in the 83rd minute but there was little he could do to change the outcome of the game.

England ended the game with a draw which proved to be a nothing result and leaves England in danger of making an early exit in this year's world cup.

England certainly did not seem to be the better side and a draw seemed a fair result on the night. One has to say that the sun is setting on the English challenge for the world cup and unless they really turn on the heat against Slovenia in their last game they will be facing an early exit from South Africa.