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ENGLAND are running scared as they prepare to face Algeria in their must-win World Cup crunch.

The damning verdict on Fabio Capello's men was delivered by USA star Clint Dempsey. He reckons the fear factor was already in evidence as England stumbled to a 1-1 draw against the States in their Group C opener.

The Fulham striker said: "Honestly it seemed during the game that they were dealing with a lot of pressure.

"I don't know why that is, you could just sense it a little bit. Even though they did score early, when we came back and we equalised, they just seemed edgy. They really did."

Dempsey, who was gifted the USA leveller by Rob Green's howler on Saturday, reckons even the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are showing nerves.

He added: "You wouldn't think that would be the case for some of the best players in the world being on teams of the quality of Chelsea or Liverpool, winning the Champions League or the title. You would think these players would be full of confidence.

"There just seemed to be an edge to the team but it could have just been the opening game.

"You would have to ask them if it affected their performance.

"But they were edgy, there was an edginess to their game but I think they're a team with quality and they should play with confidence."

Dempsey, 27, also reckons Wayne Rooney posed no threat in Rustenburg.

He insisted: "We knew Rooney was going to go back and hold and we knew the further he was away from goal the better for us, so we had that under control."

And there was no sympathy for Green. Dempsey said: "It's probably a save the keeper should have made. I didn't expect it to go in.

"When you hit it, you're kinda like 'Mmmm does it have a chance?' and then you see the keeper mishandle it and you're excited."

Dameerto wrote:According to Michael Owen he doesn't have a history of injuries though - so we know what his opinion is worth!

Grob wrote:Fuck off Clunt

Grob wrote:Fuck off Clint

john68 wrote:This is "tournament football" a lot of games in a short space of time. You do what you need to do to get through. germany have been shit almost every World Cup. they just scrape through...often all the way to the final.

England did enough to win. You can't plan for freak goals...shit happens.

I suppose the Septics had no prematch nerves and they certainly didn't play well. A freak goal got them a draw. What's the problem?

john68 wrote:This is "tournament football" a lot of games in a short space of time. You do what you need to do to get through. germany have been shit almost every World Cup. they just scrape through...often all the way to the final.

England did enough to win. You can't plan for freak goals...shit happens.

I suppose the Septics had no prematch nerves and they certainly didn't play well. A freak goal got them a draw. What's the problem?

DoomMerchant wrote:

john68 wrote:This is "tournament football" a lot of games in a short space of time. You do what you need to do to get through. germany have been shit almost every World Cup. they just scrape through...often all the way to the final.

England did enough to win. You can't plan for freak goals...shit happens.

I suppose the Septics had no prematch nerves and they certainly didn't play well. A freak goal got them a draw. What's the problem?

it was a crap match from both sides. i can't honestly think of anyone who made me stand up and take notice with a fine performance save Howard maybe. Even that's a stretch. He just did his job.

cheers

Slim wrote:

DoomMerchant wrote:

john68 wrote:This is "tournament football" a lot of games in a short space of time. You do what you need to do to get through. germany have been shit almost every World Cup. they just scrape through...often all the way to the final.

England did enough to win. You can't plan for freak goals...shit happens.

I suppose the Septics had no prematch nerves and they certainly didn't play well. A freak goal got them a draw. What's the problem?

it was a crap match from both sides. i can't honestly think of anyone who made me stand up and take notice with a fine performance save Howard maybe. Even that's a stretch. He just did his job.

cheers

I thought the US were fantastic, of course we have to set the bar REALLY low for you talentless clods.

England were obviously utterly shit, because anything an iota over that would have had us winning 5-0.

Good luck against Slovenia, they are the mighty might giants you are fighting over 2nd place with.

Slim wrote:I thought the US were fantastic, of course we have to set the bar REALLY low for you talentless clods.

England were obviously utterly shit, because anything an iota over that would have had us winning 5-0.

Good luck against Slovenia, they are the mighty might giants you are fighting over 2nd place with.

kinkylola wrote:

Slim wrote:I thought the US were fantastic, of course we have to set the bar REALLY low for you talentless clods.

England were obviously utterly shit, because anything an iota over that would have had us winning 5-0.

Good luck against Slovenia, they are the mighty might giants you are fighting over 2nd place with.

do you support england or australia? Either way I feel sorry for you. it's either useless twats or convicted felons that were cast off by the useless twats ... and they've both played shit so far, with no signs of stopping

edit: actually I like australians, but they have looked shit.

kinkylola wrote:what about underachieving AND incapable? seems to fit england to a tee right now.

we did make it to the quarter finals in 2002 by the way (the farthest england has gotten in 20 years since '90), don't think we'll make it that far this time. So does this still count as the tournament of our lives or was that 2002?