England vs Algeria – Match Review
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England has stumbled its way to a goalless draw with Algeria at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town leaving both sides still with a fighting chance of progressing to the Round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
However, with England being touted as heavy favourites going into the match, the Three Lions’ ineffectual performance has left them in third place in Group C with just a disappointing two points from two matches.
In a game where neither side managed to take control of proceedings, chances were few and far between with a solitary goal from either side always looking likely to be enough to win it.
David James stood in goals for England at the expense of the calamitous Rob Green; and while the former was tested throughout the match, he succeeded in any task that was given to him.
It took 30 minutes for the first real clear-cut chance to occur, but Algerian ’keeper, Rais M Bolhi, saved competently from a Steven Gerrard long-range thunderbolt.
Three minutes later, a right-wing cross from Aaron Lennon was partially cleared to Frank Lampard, but his left-footed effort lacked venom, with Bolhi again making the critical stop.
Yet, Algeria continued to make a fist of it as left-sided defender, Nadir Belhadj, repeatedly galloped down the left-flank to create an extra attacking option for the Desert Foxes.
Karim Matmour and Karim Ziani fashioned opportunities for Algeria, but their shots both went wide.
England responded with efforts from Gareth Barry and Wayne Rooney, but again, they failed to beat the ’keeper, who appeared to be on top of his game.
With the half-time interval providing a chance for England coach, Fabio Capello, to address his team’s lacklustre performance, England instead came out and persisted with the same indecisive build-up play that all too often required far more penetration at the Algerian goal.
The second half saw both sides carve decent openings, yet without ultimately testing either ’keeper.
A Gerrard header in the 70th minute was the most England could muster up on goal in the dying stages, as Wayne Rooney failed to impress again.
Jermaine Defoe summed up England’s night as his volley deep into injury time sailed over the bar leaving the scores deadlocked at full-time.
The goalless draw created history as the Northern Africans proudly kept a clean sheet in a FIFA World Cup match for the first time.
For England and Algeria, only a win will do in their final matches against Slovenia and the USA if they are to advance to the knockout phase.
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