World Cup: England, Fingers Crossed, but Nagging Doubts Remain

Before England’s disappointing draw against Algeria last Friday, the Algerian coach Rabah Saâdane made his players watch The Battle of Algiers, the famous 1966 film of his country's uprising against its French colonial rulers.

Jokes abound that England may similarly benefit this afternoon against Slovenia with a pre-match screening of The Great Escape.

But with key players having publicly complained of boredom in the England camp, perhaps The Three Lions would be more inspired by a re-run of [i]Dead Man Running[/i], the 50 Cent gangsta flick executively produced by Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole.

After a terrible start to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, England are now faced with the prospect of failing to qualify from the group stages for the first time since 1958. With Liverpool rushing to sign manager Roy Hodgson before the expected dismissal of Fabio Capello should England fail to deliver, initial signs are not good.

Much has been made of 1990, when England stuttered through the group stages, with only a late goal from Mark Wright against unfancied Egypt seeing them through to the last 16.

Perhaps the euphoria of going on to reach the semis has diminished the memory of just how precarious the initial progress was.

A major difference between now and then is that the 1990 England coach Bobby Robson was not only respected by the players, but also held in great affection.

Fabio Capello’s reputation for “iron discipline” was once seen as the cure to England’s ills, but the approach is being increasingly questioned. Like a heroin addict who will either recover or fade once his fix is removed, England’s stars have failed to shine once deprived of the glitz and glamour of their customary celebrity lifestyle.