|
ESPNsoccernet: World Cup 2010 | |
Steven Gerrard said England have "no excuses" after their dismal 0-0 draw with Algeria left them needing a win in their final game to stay in the tournament.
 |
• Jolly: England were shockingly bad
• Gallery 
Algeria had the better of the early stages and England never got to grips with the game, struggling even to create chances in a game they had been strongly expected to win.
Asked what was missing, he told ITV: "Goals. I'm not happy with the performance. If we want to stay in this tournament till the later stages, we need to improve.
"We weren't good enough in the final third to get the breakthrough. We've got no excuses. We know the job we've got to go and do - we've got to win the last game [against Slovenia]."
Asked about the pressure, he said: "At this level, you've got to handle it. You've got to play under pressure and we never hit our level today. We'll have to have a look at it - look at the reasons why.
"We weren't aggressive enough. We never won the ball back early enough. We never had the courage in the final third.
"We have to beat [teams like Algeria], but you've got to give them credit - this is their World Cup final and they've managed to get a draw off us - but we've got to look at ourselves."
Wayne Rooney cut a frustrated figure throughout the game and, as the team were booed off at the full-time whistle, he said: "Nice to see your home fans boo you. That's what I call supporters."
Fabio Capello refused to be critical of the individual performances of the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
"I do not like to talk about one player," he said. "If you don't play well, it is not just one player who makes the difference."
He added: "I hope on Wednesday to see the England team. This is not the England that I know. It is not the players in training. When I started as England manager, I saw the same things when we played at Wembley.
"I hope for the next game that we forget this performance and forget to play with fear and without confidence.
"It is incredible the mistakes of the players, when they do not control the ball, the easy passes we missed. Everything. This is incredible for the level of the England players."
Capello would not be drawn on any changes he may make for the crucial clash with Slovenia on Wednesday, but he said: "It can change. I will try."
Jermain Defoe, who replaced Heskey in the second half, went against the gloom and declared England are "a great team.''
The Tottenham striker showed boundless optimism ahead of Wednesday's showdown with Slovenia and told BBC Five Live: "We're a great team regardless of what anyone says about tonight.
"Look around the dressing room, it's a good mix. There is youth and lads who have done it. We've got to stick together, that is the key.''
In response to Capello's assertion England's spirit was affected, Defoe added: "Sometimes it is difficult. We've got to keep working hard.
"The lads are great, everyone wants to win, everyone wanted to win tonight. No games are easy - we've seen that in the other games.
"I'm not trying to make excuses. They played well, they passed the ball well. We worked hard and with a little bit more luck we would have scored.''
As for the fans' reactions, Defoe went on: "We can understand their frustration, they have travelled thousands of miles to support the boys.
"It's important for the fans to stick behind us, go out there and try our best. To keep supporting us and hopefully we will put things right on Wednesday.''
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane also said England played below their potential. "I was expecting better," he said. "I don't know what happened. The England team was not up to its level today.
"They played better against the USA. It is up to the coach to draw the necessary conclusions as toward the England team. We caused them problems with our short passes and style of play. I don't think England was up to its full strength as a team today.
"We countered what they did well. We played extremely effectively and we could have won. England could have won. We both had opportunities.
"I said we would improve and that is happening. We are growing in confidence and that is important."