In what has been a topsy-turvy World Cup, some of Europe's traditional powers find themselves in a fight simply to advance to the knockout round.
In England's case, the issue if there's any fight left.
On the verge of a fantastic implosion, the Three Lions face a virtual must-win situation in Port Elizabeth against Group C leader Slovenia on Wednesday to avoid a humiliating exit.
With reigning champion Italy struggling, 2006 finalist France in chaos and Germany inconsistent, it appeared South Africa was a venue where England could finally add a second champion to the 1966 squad.
Some of that optimism, though, was blunted in a 1-1 draw with the United States thanks to goalkeeper Robert Green's gaffe. That worry gave way to all-out panic among Three Lions supporters following a dour scoreless tie versus Algeria on Friday in which England showed little flair offensively and left it in danger of group play elimination for the first time since 1958.
"If we want to stay in this tourney to the later stages we have to improve,'' England midfielder Steven Gerrard said. "We know the job we've got to go do, win the last game. You know to play at this level you've got to handle it, play under the pressure.''
That pressure has weighed heavily on star forward Wayne Rooney, who failed to get untracked in either match. The rigid managerial style of Fabio Capello, praised as the Three Lions rolled through qualifying in Europe, appears to have had the opposite effect here.
Yet for all the collective hand-wringing, all England needs to advance to the knockout round - and potentially win Group C - is a victory. England can also advance with a draw, but it would also need a tie in the Algeria-United States match and overcome a two-goal deficit to the Americans in goals scored.
Capello will have to make one change to his lineup since defensive midfielder Jamie Carragher is out after picking up two yellow cards.
Slovenia needs only a draw to advance to the round of 16 for the first time. After defeating Algeria, the Green Dragons hung on for a 2-2 tie versus the U.S. on Friday.
Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic scored first-half goals for the Green Dragons, who then wilted under a second-half charge by the Americans and were fortunate to escape with a point after the U.S. had a goal disallowed in the 85th minute for a questionable foul on a free kick.
"It was a great match but it shouldn't have happened that we made such dumb mistakes in the second half," coach Matjaz Kek said. "We gained a point today and we are in a very good position."
Striker Necj Pecnik, who appeared as a reserve in the first two matches, suffered a broken ankle and is out for the tournament.
The Green Dragons would be eliminated with a loss and a victory by the U.S. or a two-goal triumph by Algeria.
In England's case, the issue if there's any fight left.
On the verge of a fantastic implosion, the Three Lions face a virtual must-win situation in Port Elizabeth against Group C leader Slovenia on Wednesday to avoid a humiliating exit.
With reigning champion Italy struggling, 2006 finalist France in chaos and Germany inconsistent, it appeared South Africa was a venue where England could finally add a second champion to the 1966 squad.
Some of that optimism, though, was blunted in a 1-1 draw with the United States thanks to goalkeeper Robert Green's gaffe. That worry gave way to all-out panic among Three Lions supporters following a dour scoreless tie versus Algeria on Friday in which England showed little flair offensively and left it in danger of group play elimination for the first time since 1958.
"If we want to stay in this tourney to the later stages we have to improve,'' England midfielder Steven Gerrard said. "We know the job we've got to go do, win the last game. You know to play at this level you've got to handle it, play under the pressure.''
That pressure has weighed heavily on star forward Wayne Rooney, who failed to get untracked in either match. The rigid managerial style of Fabio Capello, praised as the Three Lions rolled through qualifying in Europe, appears to have had the opposite effect here.
Yet for all the collective hand-wringing, all England needs to advance to the knockout round - and potentially win Group C - is a victory. England can also advance with a draw, but it would also need a tie in the Algeria-United States match and overcome a two-goal deficit to the Americans in goals scored.
Capello will have to make one change to his lineup since defensive midfielder Jamie Carragher is out after picking up two yellow cards.
Slovenia needs only a draw to advance to the round of 16 for the first time. After defeating Algeria, the Green Dragons hung on for a 2-2 tie versus the U.S. on Friday.
Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic scored first-half goals for the Green Dragons, who then wilted under a second-half charge by the Americans and were fortunate to escape with a point after the U.S. had a goal disallowed in the 85th minute for a questionable foul on a free kick.
"It was a great match but it shouldn't have happened that we made such dumb mistakes in the second half," coach Matjaz Kek said. "We gained a point today and we are in a very good position."
Striker Necj Pecnik, who appeared as a reserve in the first two matches, suffered a broken ankle and is out for the tournament.
The Green Dragons would be eliminated with a loss and a victory by the U.S. or a two-goal triumph by Algeria.
