Pompey at the world cup - James and Belhadj

The Pompey involvement at the world cup dropped by 3 on Tuesday, it is 'possible' that it will drop by another 2 by 5pm; although 'fingers crossed' it will only drop by one, maximum, with England scraping through!

That is why he should have been no.1 anyway

I think it is fair to say that few, if any, Pompey fan actually ever doubted the fact that David James should have been England's no.1 from the start of the tournament, right?

He was not, and an error from Rob Green cost us a couple of points, yet he is now the man between the sticks, the first Pompey player to play for England at the world cup in more than 50-years, and 'should' remain as the no.1 for the 'do or die' game with Slovenia this afternoon, 3pm kick-off.

Much has been made of Fabio Capello's decisions, or non-decisions, although as my cousin said to me on the phone last night - and I agree - the problems started from his decision with the goalkeeper for the first game against America, and have continued from that moment onwards with that decision 'possibly' being the catalyst for a series of knock-on issues...

As long as James performs to the ability that we know he can we have every chance of doing what we need to do defensively, the problem is can those in the offensive area do what is needed to score the goals to get us the win!

Will justice be served for Algeria?

Algeria do not qualify for many world cups, in fact this is their first for more than 20-years and they are still awaiting 'justice' for something from 1982, I think it was the 1982 world cup, where Germany and Austria, again I think it was Germany and Austria, played out a farcical game ensuring that the result each needed to get through happened - and Algeria went out!

Nadir Belhadj will again play for Algeria, and will be looking to put himself further in the shop window.

To be fair I think it is safe to say, blinkers off, he has been their best player so far, right?

Algeria know they MUST beat America, if they do that then they are 'probably' through, as long as England beat Slovenia and by more than 1 goal - 'if' England fail to win and Algeria win then they are definitely through.

Who will make it though, and can the Pompey players inspire England and/or Algeria to do this?

Remember to follow England, and the world cup in general, with us on Vital England - here.

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Click here to make your predictions: Slovenia v England, 15:00, USA v Algeria, 15:00, Australia v Serbia, 19:30 & Ghana v Germany, 19:30.

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