England seek reassurance, Germany more goals

Held to an unsatisfactory 1-1 by USA in their first game, England
need three points against Algeria to restore their flagging confidence
and get their Group C bid back on course. With the wily Rabah Saadane at
the helm, the Desert Foxes will be out to stymie the English. Failure
to do so could result in a shock elimination.
No side has been more impressive at South Africa 2010 than Germany,
who overwhelmed Australia in their tournament bow and are now seeking to
impose their compelling brand of football on a Serbia side still
smarting from their 1-0 defeat to Ghana.
The conquerors of Russia in the play-offs, unfancied Slovenia go into
their game against USA full of confidence. Having kicked off with a
win, the well-drilled Dragons will likely be planning to keep things
tight at the back and hit the Americans on the counter.
The matchesGermany-Serbia,
Group D, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, 13.30
Slovenia-USA, Group
C, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 16.00
England-Algeria, Group C, Cape
Town, 20.30

The big game
England-Algeria
Fabio
Capello could barely conceal his delight at the news that Gareth Barry
would be available for the meeting with Algeria. Following a stop-start
domestic season and a frustrating six-week injury layoff, the left-sided
Manchester City midfielder is set to reclaim his place in the side. As
well as offering England a measure of defensive stability, Barry’s
return will also allow skipper Steven Gerrard to switch back to his
preferred position on the left.
In this the first ever meeting between the sides, the Algerians will
be hoping to draw on the Premier League experience of Portsmouth duo
Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda, who know all about the strengths and
weaknesses of the English. On the downside, Les Fennecs will be
deprived of the services of one of their prized assets, striker
Abdelkader Ghezzal, who was sent off against Slovenia.
In focusThe German defence v
Nikola ZigicThe meeting between Group D leaders
Germany and Serbia should produce its fair share of aerial tussles as
the spindly Zigic goes head to head against totemic duo Per Mertesacker
and Holger Badstuber, with towering goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sure to get
involved in the fray as well.

Serbian shotstopper Vladimir
Stojkovic will face a different kind of challenge against German strike
tandem Jeronimo and Miroslav Klose, who reminded everyone of his aerial
prowess with a sublime header against the Socceroos last Sunday. Mindful
of the battle that awaits them against the Balkan side, the veteran
finisher has been warning against complacency, urging Nationalmannschaft
fans to “keep their feet on the ground”.
What they said“We're on a
learning curve, working on the little details that can make all the
difference. That’s what top-level football is about,” Algeria
coach Rabah Saadane ahead of his side’s crunch game
with England