The so-called World Class stars of England have much to answer for after one of the most inept performances seen at this or any other World Cup. To say the 1-1 draw with Algeria was dreadful is understating how bad it was, and it’s hard to know how coach Capello can fix it. The remarkable thing is that if they do fire and somehow manage to beat Slovenia on Thursday morning (Australian Eastern time) they will be in the second round, and it’s game on. On this showing however, Rooney, Lampard, Terry, Gerrard and all the rest will be on the plane home.
Australia on the other hand more than made up for the Durban disaster with a spirited display against Ghana in Rustenburg.
Brett Holman put the Aussies 1-0 up early on, but after 25 minutes the game changed when Harry Kewell handled on the line, conceding a penalty and earning a red card. Ghana converted to level the score, but Australia played the remainder of the game with great passion and were unlucky not to finish with a win.
I have to say though that there must be a serious question about interpretation of the rules. Feeling here in Australia seems to be divided with some saying it was a justified red card. The ball hit Kewell on the shoulder and upper arm, he could not have got out of the way, it was not deliberate. Even if the ref considered it a clear handball, a send off is very unfair.
FIFA have much to answer for because they make these rigid rules which put referees under pressure to make such harsh decisions, and they change games as well as players lives. Ghana’s Annan was given only a yellow card for a vicious foul on Mark Bresciano, which was much worse than the tackle which earned Tim Cahill a send off against Germany. Where is the consistency? The arrogance of FIFA and their meglomaniac President Sepp Blatter, is wearing a bit thin on the football world.
Anyway England have a chance of going through, as it is their own hands, where Australia have to beat Serbia and hope Ghana beat Germany.
