By TRAVIS CLARK
Fabio Capello is set to give Robert Green a vote of confidence ahead of England's second match at the World Cup.
The Italian will take one more close look at Green's performances in training, but according to reports, is preparing to retain Green as his starting goalkeeper as the Three Lions get set to take on Algeria on Friday. Green's mistake isn't enough for a place on the bench in the place of Joe Hart or David James.
If Capello sticks to his track record, the identity of England's starter might not be known until the lineups are released ahead of Friday's matchup.
Here's a look at a few more stories for Wednesday evening:
SWISS WAIT ON PROGNOSIS OF SENDEROS INJURY
Switzerland may have enjoyed a tremendous result today, but it could come at a cost as they wait to hear on the prognosis of Philippe Senderos' injury. The starting central defender came off in the game's 36th minute, injuring his ankle in a collision with teammate. Initial reports that he sprained his ankle, though severe ligament damage is also feared. His replacement, Steve von Bergen performed well in stifling Spain's attack, but it would be a blow to lose Senderos for the rest of the tournament.
ALGERIAN 'KEEPER IN DOUBT
Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi is a question mark for Friday's game against England. Chaochi, responsible for what is perhaps the second-biggest goalie error this World Cup has seen, injured his knee in a training session on Tuesday. The 25-year-old sat out Wednesday's training, and will be re-evaluated closer to kick off. Rais M'Bohli and Lounès Gaouaoui are the other two options for coach Rabah Saadane.
PORTUGAL ASK FIFA TO OVERTURN RONALDO YELLOW
Portugal have appealed to FIFA to overturn the yellow card Ronaldo received in Tuesday's 0-0 draw with the Ivory Coast. The Real Madrid attacker was booked in the 21st minute along with Ivory Coast defender Guy Demel, after Demel slid in hard on Ronaldo and the two were involved in an altercation. It puts Ronaldo in danger — if he were to get a second yellow in Portugal's next match against North Korea, he would miss their third group match versus Brazil.
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Think Capello is right to go with Green? What impact will Senderos' injury have on the Swiss? Is Algeria better off with another goalie? Was Ronaldo's yellow deserved?
Share your thoughts below.
I think Hart should have been given the nod to begin with, but I don’t think it’s wise to make such a major switch. Hit the panic button now and the players will lose confidence. Tell Green he’s your guy, that it was one mistake, and that he needs to shake it off because he’s vital to the team’s success. If he has a terrible game against Algeria, then you make the switch. But for right now, the guy made one error – the sky is not yet falling on England.
I see what you did there.
FIFA should take away the yellow and then card him the first time he dives against North Korea which would be in the first few minutes anyway. Maybe he’ll chill on the diving.
Same could be said for Camaronesi. They were both out of control, though De Jong was probably worse.
That’s a great question
Umm why would Portugal sit their best player against North Korea, which plays smart and organized defense. Don’t over look anyone.
Speaking of officiating and yellow cards: How on Earth did Nigel DeJong escape two yellows, let alone a straight red for about 3-4 of his reckless tackles?
As we know, if he were American…this situation would be dramatically different.
Should’ve gotten the yellow for diving earler anyway. If you can do that, I’d have every other team that he dove against get him post-booked for the WC.
i’m glad Ghezzal is out more than the keeper. but their back up keeps aren’t impressive on paper, so i guess that is good.
portugal would do well to sit ronaldo for the NK game unless things just are not working out. not worth having him miss the brazil game.
yea ronaldo deserved that yellow. he did get fouled pretty bad on the play that he got the card, but he could have passed for an olympic high-diver out there. he could have got a yellow for any one of his many atrocious flops
I agree with you on everything. Every single spanish player was basically alike ccuting and dribbling in front of goal instead of going for pure force (villa and pique). I’ve always said spain weren’t the best in the world the reason the usa lost to brazil was because they switched to using force in the second have. Plus I think the swiss used the USA’s match against them as a blueprint… they played exactly alike. The south americas go through the same conditons iin there country so they fell at home playing. The europeans are still bothered about vuvuzelas and a perfect pitch
So far the South American teams look to all have the right balance to do well in a tournament like this one. Uraguay and Chile have impressed me. Paraguay deserved it’s point against Italy. Brazil and Argentina are what we expected.
Europe on the other hand has some weak participants. Germany and Holland look like they are on the right track. However, France is a joke. Problems in the locker room and a country who from top to bottom does not like the coach. England has a huge soft spot in the worst possible place, central defense. Plus the English goalies are keeping up their fine tradition of sucking. Spain is all finesse and no bite. Is there much of a difference between Pedro, Navas, Iniesta or Xavi? All silk and glitter….no brawn. Greece is on vacation. Italy is going to try to cheat, politic and dive to the next round. (just like last time)
Both players in that little tussle deserved the yellow – that said, FIFA should set a policy that all cards issued by Larrionda are automatically subject to appeal (such as the card to Zokora for the phantom foul in the 7th minute).
The yellow was undeserved for the carding offense. He did, however, not do himself any favors by flopping around and performing Olympic gold worthy dives. Make up calls do and will happen. Every player knows this.
Ronaldo ran his mouth too much… the players were warned. Deserved.
Fabello needs advise the keeper he has chose to start at least a day before the game. I don’t know how any keeper could get his head together finding out he’s starting 2 hrs before the game. But English mistakes are good for the USA so keep on doing what you’re doing Don Fabio…
Ronaldo deserved a yellow for the unconscionable diving.
Seems to me that Ronaldo’s yellow was really a make-up call for his blatant dive in the 7th minute that led to the yellow card on Zokora.
The referee was Jorge Larrionda, who, as we learned in the US-Italy match in 2006, is not above using make-up calls to achieve (what he believes to be) justice.