It can only get better

The night after the night before and I still can’t believe quite how badly we played, where does Capello start after a performance like that. There was no fight, no desire and no skill.

Positive thinking
Positive thinking is our only saviour right now….it could be worse, we could be France. Let’s look on the bright side we are unbeaten – Spain, Germany and France have all lost a game. It’s in our own hands, we win against Slovenia and we are through - it’s effectively knockout football.

A draw could be good enough too, if USA and Algeria draw we can go through but it would have to be a higher scoring draw that USA by a couple of goals, so let’s not count on that. Furthermore, as Adrian Chiles pointed out yesterday if we draw 2-2 and USA draw 0-0, England and USA would have to draw lots to see who goes through. To go through with just three points would be a bit ridiculous anyway – but would make it possible to become the first team to ever win a World Cup with actually winning a game. That would however require four penalty shoot-out wins, so we all know that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

Rooney
OK, so Rooney was terrible last night, maybe he’s been taking tips off Emile Heskey. And his outburst to the camera at the end of the game, while “in the heat of the moment” and clearly showing his frustration (probably at himself), was a bit out of order. Afterall I bet you if Wayne Rooney was just a regular footie fan in that stadium last night, we would have booed the team off. I’m absolutely against booing your own team, I never have and never will do it, but it was somewhat understandable last night after one of the most abject England performance in a while, and I hope Wayne appreciates this.

My team to face Slovenia
Heskey has to go, I like Crouch and he has an amazing scoring record for England, but I don’t think he is the answer right now. Rooney is out most dangerous player, so let’s put him where he can really hurt teams, and have Gerrard in a free role supporting him, running from deep, getting crosses in and being a general playmaker – both Rooney and Gerrard will revel in those roles. Barry allows Lampard to venture forward to try and score those deflected goals he’s renowned for, and Joe Cole adds a bit of flair to the proceedings. The defence pretty much picks itself and James looked solid in goal against Algeria. Whatever team he picks it will definitely be a nervy 90 minutes.

My pick:
GK: James
RB: Johnson
LB: Cashley Cole
CB: Upson
CB: Terry
RM: Lennon
LM: Joe Cole
CM: Lampard
CM: Barry
SS: Gerrard
CF: Rooney

Gallic and German misery
Anyway, that’s enough about England, we can take comfort in the misery of two of our big rivals, Germany and France.

Germany, who we could yet face in the ‘Round of the Last 16’, inexplicably lost to Serbia. Their main striker, Klose, was sent off (wrongly), they missed a penalty and generally had a bad day – it would be ‘a real shame’ if they didn’t make it through. It was refreshing to see Germany play less well after their opening game mauling of Australia, maybe they aren’t so good afterall, time will tell. Germany are in a very similar position to England as it’s in their own hands - all they need is victory against Ghana in their final game to qualify.

And now some real revelling is others misfortune….yes it’s those cheating Gallic frogs, France. How beautiful it was to see them look absolutely awful against Mexico. And Anelka has been sent home after allegedly arguing with his manager at half-time. Even a win in their final game might not be enough for France to progress. That group could get quite complicated. Uruguay and Mexico play each other, and a draw between those two will see them both through. However if there is a winner, France must close a goal difference gap of four to Mexico and five to Uruguay. Either way, it’s not looking good, and that’s assuming France can beat South Africa, who will be desperate to put on a performance for their home fans.