DAY 8 REVIEW

So it appears England are no-where near as good as we think we are, and on the evidence of the dismal goalless draw against Algeria, there is going to be a real struggle to qualify for the second round against Slovenia on Wednesday. I don't think I've seen a more inept, clueless and lifeless performance from England in a major tournament game, and there is going to have to be a significant change in attitude, personal and system for the crunch game in Port Elizabeth. Now we will see what Fabio Capello is really made of - does he have the balls to ditch the stale 4-4-2 system, and actually give a run out to England's most creative player, Joe Cole? There is very little to write about last night's action in Cape Town, as the North Africans comfortably held on for the draw. Real Enflang chances were few and far between, and second choice keeper Rais M'Bolhi was only seriously tested by a first-half snapshot from Frank Lampard. England looked rushed in possession, and could barely hold onto the ball and string two passes together - an ailment particularly effecting the out-of-form Wayne Rooney. So much for the return of Gareth Barry giving England a platform to build on. David James replaced Robert Green in goal, as had been predicted, but even he looked shaky despite being a virtual spectator for much of the game, spilling a straightforward crossing in the first-half. Mr. Capello was not the cool customer we had witnessed during qualifying - he was starting to lose his rag,and was becoming increasingly frustrated. The second half saw a negligible improvement, and the Italian could resist temptation no longer, as first Shaun Wright-Phillips, then Jermain Defoe, and finally Peter Crouch were called from the bench. But this was to no avail, and the closest England came was a cross-shot from Emile Heskey which landed on the roof of the net. It is confusing why Cole hasn't played a minute of England's dismal World Cup campaign so far, despite England looking so stale. The Algerian players celebrated fratically at the final whistle, but in truth, there wasn't much frantic about their defending, so awful were England. And their most disappointing player, Rooney, had the gall to criticise the fans who booed them off the pitch. When some of these fans will have been saving for years for this 'holiday of a lifetime,' the reception they received was more than deserved. Rooney and his teammates would be better served concentrating on events on the pitch, and making sure they get the result they need against a talented Slovenian side.

The other game in Group C, by contrast, was one of the best games of this World Cup so far, and further emphasised how hard a task England are going to have on Wednesday. Slovenia, having led 2-0, were eight minutes awy from qualifying for the second round, before the USA scored a priceless equaliser which means they will have to wait to know their fate. There was two obvious difference in the performances of Slovenia and England yesterday - Slovenia looked like a team, and also looked comfortable in possession. Slovenia were well-organised, and knew their game plan, while their midfield and attack linked up with ease, and often left the Americans chasing shadows in the opening stages. They were rewarded in stunning fashion, after Bojan Jokic, Robert Koren and Aleksander Radosavljevic engineered some space for Walter Birsa 30 yards out, and he proceeded to bend a stunning strike into Tim Howard's top left-hand corner. This shocked the Americans, but also sprung them into life as they tried to get back into the match. Jose Torres tested Samir Handanovic, before Miso Brecko somehow poked away a Clint Dempsey cross with Landon Donovan waiting. Just as it seemed certain a USA equaliser was in the way, Slovenia doubled their lead with a lightning quick breakaway. Milivoje Novakovic midway inside the American half, and slipped the ball through for Zlatan Ljubijankic, who had beaten the offside trap, and slipped the ball under Howard. This shocked US coach Bob Bradley into a double substitution at half-time, with Maurice Edu and Benny Feilhaber brought on for Torres and Robbie Findley, and within minutes, there was hope. A long ball from Steven Cherundolo was inexplicably missed by Bostjan Cesar, allowing Donovan to run onto it. As his options diminished as he headed towards the by-line, with no colleagues up in support, the US tailsman lashed the ball into the roof of the net from an almost impossible angle, and it was game on. America were going for it now, and Handanovic made decent saves from Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley, but Slovenia also broke when the opportunity arose, meaning this match was a real end-to-end encounter, not in keeping with anything we've seen before in this tournament. In a final throw of the dice Bradley replace Oguchi Onyewu, a defender, with Herculez Gomez, another striker, and it paid off. Two minutes later, a ball from Donovan found Altidore, who's excellent knock-down found the onruushing Bradley, who slid the ball into the roof of the net. Son had rescued dad, two days before father's day, but USA weren't going to settle for that. With three minutes to go, Donovan swung over a free-kick from the right, and Edu volleyed the ball into the net. But referee Koman Coulibaly had already blown the whistle for a non-exsistent foul, enfuriating the Americans. So despite the late equaliser, Bradley and his men will still see this as an opportunity missed.

The day's opening match, between Germany and Serbia, was a bit of a disappointment in comparison, and Germany were brought crashing back down to earth following their thrashing of Australia. But this was in no small part down to Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco, who flashed his yellow card at every opportunity, and this was also going to result in one side not finishing with their full compliment of players. The match hadn't really got going, apart from a half-chance for Lukas Podolski, by the time German striker Miroslav Klose, who was one of six players already booked, was given his marching orders fot two innocuous trips. And Serbia were to score what would prove to be their winner just a minute later, after the impressive Milos Krasic swung over a cross from the right, the giant Nikola Zigic headed the ball down, and Liverpool's prospective new signing Milan Jovanovic, volleyed home from close range. Thereafter, despite their numerical advantage, Serbia dropped deeper and Germany began to take control. Sami Khedira slammed a stuning shot against the bar from the edge of the penalty area, while Podolski wasted a succession of presentable chances, the best being a weak penalty easile saved by keeper Vladimir Stojkovic after Nemanja Vidic's stupid handball. But as the ten men tired, Serbia looke the more likely to score the game's second goal - Jovanovic curled against the bar while Zigic did likewise with a header. But the result leaves Group D finely balanced, and both these teams will have to wait until Wednesday to find out their fate.


PLAYER OF THE DAY - Landon Donovan

As much for his strength of personality as for his ability on the pitch, the USA talisman and captain dragged his team back into a match which had looked like it was slipping away from them. He scored a brilliant goal minutes after half-time, and cajoled his teammates into pushing forward to get the all important equaliser. It was from his pass that Altidore knocked the ball down for Bradley to equalise, and his free-kick was headed home by Edu for what should have been the winner. It was a fantasitc performance, and he deserves to earn a permanent move to a top European league.

GOAL OF THE DAY - Walter Birsa.

What a way to announce yourself on the world stage by the Auxerre winner. After neat build up between Jokic, Koren and Radosavljevic, Birsa received the ball about 30 yards out with only one thought in his mind - striding forward a few steps, and curling a glorious shot into the top corner. Tim Howard barely moved, and we saw that the Slovenia we saw struggle to defeat Algeria was not the real deal - this was.

GAFFE OF THE DAY - referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco.

His decisions might have led to a better spectacle between Germany and Serbia, but a serious of ridiculous yellow cards meant it was only a matter of time before someone received their marching orders. This came after 36 minutes, and it was Miroslav Klose, who can hardly be described as a malicious or dirty player, for two innocuous fouls. By far the worst refereeing performance in a World Cup where the standard has been fairly high so far.

MOMENT OF THE DAY - Algerian celebrations.

The North Africans celebrated as if they had won the World Cup on hearing the final whistle in Cape Town. And in many ways, they had, as I would not back them to beat the USA to get the victory they need to have a chance of progressing. But this saidmore about the inept nature of England's performance. Without an improvement against Slovenia, it won't be football that's coming home - it will be England.

FANTASY TEAM

Ashley Cole and Igor Kolarov both represented my defence yesterday, for England and Serbia respectiely, and both kept clean sheets, earning me valuable points. Manuel Neuer, in the German goal, wasnot so lucky, as their ten-man defence was breached by Milan Jovanovic.