17 June 2010 AsiaOne
England will return to the formation that brought them
so much success in their qualifying campaign as they bid to regain
their winning touch in the crucial Group C game in Cape Town on
Friday night.
They were denied the services of holding midfield player Gareth
Barry for the last two games of their warm-up programme and their
1-1 draw with the USA in their South Africa 2010 opener by an ankle
injury suffered on club duty with Manchester City in May, but he is
now fit and coach Fabio Capello has confirmed he will play against
Algeria.
"He's one of the players who can stay in front of the two
centre-backs and he makes this position work very well," said
Capello, who has seen his side struggle for cohesion in Barry's
absence.
"He allows Steve (Gerrard) and Frank (Lampard) to go forward and
score goals. For this reason I'm happy that Barry will play."
However, Capello is not revealing until just before kick-off who
will be England's goalkeeper for their first meeting with Algeria,
after Robert Green's blunder handed the USA their equaliser last
Saturday.
The Italian is waiting to see what mental state Green is in
before making his final selection, but it seems likely he will
retain the West Ham keeper, as Barry revealed: "He's kept himself
upbeat."
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane also has a doubt about his
goalkeeper, Fawzi Chaouchi, but because he sprained a knee in
training rather than because of the error that handed Slovenia a
1-0 win in their opening match.
Saadane had been banking on obtaining some reward from the
Slovenia match and admitted: "It's going to be very difficult now.
We had a great opportunity and we missed it."
However, defender Madjid Bougherra believes the pressure will be
on England on Friday after their draw with the USA.
"There was frustration for England and also for the USA, but it
was a good result because it gives us a chance," he said. "We have
nothing to lose."
England striker Wayne Rooney is determined there will be no
slip-ups this time, though, pointing out: "We started very well
against the USA and overall deserved to win.
"Unfortunately we didn't, but we're looking forward to the game
on Friday and I'm sure we will take three points."
