Nobody expected Fabio Capello’s moment of truth to have come so soon. Given how soon England qualified for this World Cup, it seems astonishing they should have been beset by so many problems. Whether Robert Green, the equally fallible David James or the promising Joe Hart keeps goal at Green Point, none of them is world class. The England manager will also have to decide on whether to keep faith with Jamie Carragher as John Terry’s regular partner, although the return of Gareth Barry should give the midfield greater coherence.

After a performance against Slovenia that featured some inept goalkeeping and possibly the worst performance of the World Cup thus far from Adbelkader Ghezzel, who came on as a substitute, missed the closest thing Algeria came to an open goal and then got himself sent off, they need a win. Having studied their display against Slovenia, it seems hard to imagine how Rabah Saadane proposes to do it, although there surely has to be more link-up play between attack and midfield.

When the draw was made this game, against Algeria in the most Anglicised part of South Africa always looked as if it would be England’s home banker – and so despite the traumas of Rustenburg it is likely to prove. Wobbly though their defence is, it is hard to see how an attack as lightweight as Algeria’s can break though. However, Cape Town has staged some fairly dreadful games thus far and if it is goalless at half time, it would be interesting to see how England respond.