England will face Slovenia in their closing Group C game here on Wednesday wearing an all red kit for only the sixth time in their history.
The last time the Three Lions wore the strip was 15 years ago in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Brazil. Its only outing at a FIFA World Cup™ was in 1962 in a 0-0 draw with Bulgaria, a result that saw England progress to the next round. Fabio Capello will be hoping history strikes twice for his class of 2010 who must beat Slovenia to guarantee their passage to the last 16 in South Africa.
An opening 1-1 draw with the United States and a goalless stalemate with Algeria has left the team captained by Steven Gerrard in third on two points behind the USA on goal difference with Slovenia on top with four. Slovenia require only a draw to seal their ticket to the second round.
Gerrard on Tuesday described the game at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium as a “do or die situation”. Capello has called up Matthew Upson to partner John Terry in central defence in place of the suspended Jamie Carragher, while there is strong speculation the Italian might replace Emile Heskey up front with Jermain Defoe, and possibly bring in James Milner for Aaron Lennon in midfield.
