Day eight and another shock. Liverpool’s trio Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson were unable to help England to a first World Cup 2010 victory after a frustrating goalless draw with Algeria in Cape Town.
England – Algeria 0:0
All tree Liverpool players completed the whole 90 minutes of a woeful game. Glen Johnson did it well, it has to be said. Jaime Carragher was booked for the second time and will miss the match against Slovenia on Wednesday. Despite the first half promptings from skipper Gerrard – who registered one of only a couple of efforts on goal in the opening period with a well struck drive which was comfortably saved – England failed to seriously trouble an Algerian defence who grew in confidence with every passing minute. The second half was even more miserable. The team didn’t seem like a team. Stevie was unable to collaborate with Rooney and Rooney though didn’t seem fit enough.
England were lucky to escape with a point against Algeria and the tragedy of it all is they could produce another inept display against Slovenia on Wednesday, pinch a goal from a set-piece and find themselves through to the last 16.
-Amanda