Captain Rio Ferdinand being out is one matter, but it was the absence of Ledley King that got the Algerians thinking.
“The defence is one of their weak points. We have seen some gapsWe could create history by qualifying from our group. It’s easy to create chances against this England team.” says Portsmouth’s Nadir Belhadj.
“It is a vital match against England, who are clearly the stronger side, but we are going to play a lot better in attack than we did against Slovenia in our first match.” “It will be an open game and we must win – but so must England. They are the group favourites but anything is possible in football. On paper, England are the best team, but they have had some difficulties, especially in the friendly against Japan.”
The selection of Ledley King was an ambitious one to begin with. He has a degenerative knee condition which prevents him from training conventionally and supposedly uses the swimming pool of Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy as part of his exercise routine.
The Tottenham captain was replaced at half time by Jamie Carragher and based upon his performance which included being outpaced by Jozy Altidore and getting booked, the missing Spurs talisman appears to have left big hole to fill in the England back four.
Belhadj sprinkled more salt in the wound by adding, “Green made a very bad mistake and I can’t see how he can carry on.”
Prophetic words, eh?
