If Fabio Capello's team have any ambitions of advancing beyond their
usual quarterfinal terminus then beating Algeria, who lost 1-0 to
Slovenia in their opener, must be a given.England have never lost to
African opposition but their manager must still answer the many
questions swirling around his team and find a way to get his forward
scoring goals.With top spot in the group likely to be decided on
goal difference, and the runners-up set to face Germany in the second
round, England need a big win to put them back on course for an easier
last 16 meeting with Ghana, Serbia or Australia.Their opening 1-1
draw with a well-organized United States team, particularly seen in the
context of so many other major nations' stuttering starts, was not a
terrible result.But while Franz Beckenbauer's claim that England
have "gone backwards into the bad old days of kick and rush" seems
harsh, their Italian manager does have to get his players back to the
constructive approach that saw them cruise through qualifying.Already
missing injured captain Rio Ferdinand, England are now without his
replacement Ledley King for Friday's game — and possibly the tournament —
with Jamie Carragher set to step in.He came off the bench to
replace King at halftime against the US and formed a vocal,
tough-tackling but far-from-pacy center back partnership with former
England captain John Terry.Behind them Capello seems likely to keep
faith with goalkeeper Robert Green, whose blunder handed Clint Dempsey
the Americans' equalizer — though David James could come in.The
manager will be delighted to be able to recall Gareth Barry, one of his
favorites, to a holding role in midfield, pushing Steven Gerrard out to
the left with licence to attack.Up front, for all Wayne Rooney's
undoubted talents, he has not scored an international goal since last
September, while Emile Heskey's return of seven in 59 games tells its
own story.Peter Crouch, who came on as a substitute against the US,
said that Capello was emphasising the positives."He told us he saw
things in the first game that were encouraging and he has taken them and
told us we should still believe in ourselves and what we are doing,"
said the tall striker with an international return of 21 goals in 39
games."Hopefully, we will go on and do a lot better from now on," he
added. "We all know that and we have to make sure we get it right,
starting against Algeria."Algeria coach Rabah Saadane is also set to
stand behind his keeper Faouzi Chaouchi, after he allowed a speculative
shot by Robert Koren to squeeze past him, giving Slovenia the points.Having
lost the match they targeted as their best chance for a win, Algeria
are bracing themselves for a tough onslaught."They (England) are a
super team, as I've said, among the favorites," said Saadane. "It's
going to be a very, very difficult match for us but we have nothing to
lose."Saadane is without Abdelkader Ghezzal, suspended for a red
card after coming off the bench in the opener, but said he does not plan
widespread changes, with 24-year-old midfielder Adlane Guedioura a
possible starter to add dynamism going forward.
