CAPE TOWN // When the draw for the World Cup was made in December, The Sun, the British tabloid, reported England's group as "England, Algeria, Slovenia, Yanks = EASY". The newspaper summed up a confident nation's sentiment: England were as good as through to the next round. The United States, after a surprise march to last summer's Confederations Cup final, were widely assumed to be the best-equipped side to join them in the last 16.
For England and the US, however, things have not gone to plan. While fate remains in both sides' hands, two draws apiece have left the trans-Atlantic rivals looking uncomfortably at the possibility of early elimination. England likely must beat Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday to progress. In a simultaneous kick-off in Pretoria, the Americans probably must defeat Algeria to secure their own passage.
England and the US each have one other route to the second round, albeit inglorious. If they both draw on Wednesday, they would be level in second place with three points, and goals scored would determine who goes forward along with Slovenia. After two matches, the US have three goals to England's one. Robbed of a game-winning goal in Friday's 2-2 draw with Slovenia, the possibility of going home after the group phase is particularly harsh for the US.
An unexplained decision by Koman Coulibaly, the match referee, to rule out Maurice Edu's 85th-minute goal - an anomaly that has threatened the Malian official's World Cup position - has left the team's hierarchy bewildered. To compound their complaints, television replays showed that three US players were being illegally held as Landon Donovan's right-wing free kick entered the box. But Coulibaly saw otherwise.
A 3-2 victory would have left Bradley's side sitting pretty atop the group. In their final group match, the US are tasked with breaking down a stubborn Algerian defence that has conceded just one goal in two games - the same derisory goal count England have mustered. In both South Africa and England, expectant Three Lions fans are crestfallen. British media have dubbed Fabio Capello's team a "shambles", and thousands of supporters inside Cape Town's Green Point Stadium booed England off the field when the referee's whistle ended a goalless stalemate against Algeria on Friday.
After shouting: "It's nice to see your own fans booing you," into a TV camera as he left the field, Wayne Rooney, the prolific Manchester United striker who has never scored in a World Cup, issued a humble apology yesterday. "I am as passionate about the England team as anyone," Rooney said in a statement. "On reflection I said things in the heat of the moment that came out of frustration of both our performance and the result. I apologise for any offense caused by my actions at the end of the game."
England will need all of Rooney's passion to overcome Group C leaders Slovenia, eyeing progression themselves after taking four points from two matches. England beat Slovenia 2-1 in a friendly at Wembley in November 2009, the teams' only previous meeting. "Things aren't going to plan for most teams," said David James, the recalled England goalkeeper. "The group is not over yet and we're confident. We need to win to finish top of the group and that's what we'll set out to do." Even goal-shy Algeria, mathematically, can still go through. "We have a tactic to score against the US," said Madjid Bougherra, the Algerian defender. "We respect them but we will go through."
