Fabio Capello will assess Robert Green’s mental condition before naming England’s goalkeeper for today’s match with Algeria.
The England manager claims he has made his mind up, but refused to change his ways by revealing the identity of his No. 1 and will keep his players guessing until a few hours before kick-off.
Green did not help his cause during training by spilling the ball in a similar manner to the gaffe that led to a goal for the United States on Saturday. The mistake drew shocked gasps from onlookers at Cape Town Stadium yesterday, but he recovered his composure to come through the rest of the session and is expected to keep his place.
Capello will make a late check on the West Ham United goalkeeper’s state of mind before confirming his plans, with Green preparing to tell the manager that he is focused and desperate to play.
“I have decided, but we have to wait until tomorrow,” Capello said. “I haven’t told the goalkeeper. I always tell them the day of the game. Never the day before. I’d prefer not to change.”
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After Switzerland upset European champion Spain 1-0 on Wednesday, Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said he took notice of the strategy United States coach Bob Bradley and the Americans used when they upset the Spaniards 2-0 in the semifinals of last year’s Confederations Cup. The U.S. concentrated on counterattacks, allowing Spain possession. The Americans stayed back, putting a major part of their effort on defending in front of the goal.
“Switzerland played a very good game,” Bradley said when told of Hitzfeld’s comments. “Spain is a great team. Hitzfeld is a great coach, so if he paid our team a compliment, that’s certainly a nice thing.”
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Organizers of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil say Sao Paulo will remain a host city even though Morumbi Stadium has been dropped because of financial issues.
Organizers and FIFA say they will work with South America’s biggest city to find an alternative even though the deadline for stadium projects has passed.
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Warming lamps are being used at the shady end of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in an effort to dry the pitch before today’s World Cup match between Germany and Serbia.