Capello marks time on choice of goalkeeper

Fabio Capello plans to wait until the eleventh hour again before informing Robert Green and Joe Hart who will be England’s goalkeeper in their second World Cup match against Algeria on Friday.

Capello’s reticence in naming a first-choice goalkeeper and in informing his players of the team only two hours before kick-off has been blamed in some quarters for Green’s costly error as his team drew 1-1 in their opening match against the United States, with Peter Shilton, who won 125 caps as England goalkeeper, expressing concerns yesterday about the “continuing lack of clarity” over the position.

Despite criticism, though, Capello has no plans to rethink his selection policy. Sources indicated last night that he will not change on the basis of Green’s mistake on Saturday, in which he believes the controversial adidas Jabulani ball was a more significant factor than the West Ham United goalkeeper’s state of mind.

Capello will continue to take advice from his two goalkeeping coaches, Franco Tancredi and Ray Clemence, before deciding whether to go with Green or Hart against Algeria in Cape Town. Although he maintains that Green’s mental state was not a problem against the US, the England manager has said that the goalkeeper will need to be assessed “psychologically” before a decision is made — which could mean a session with Christian Lattanzio, the Football Association’s sports psychologist, who was part of Gianfranco Zola’s backroom staff at West Ham and also serves as Capello’s interpreter.

Capello, his staff and his players have been impressed so far by the way Green has responded to his mistake for Clint Dempsey’s equalising goal on Saturday and to the criticism that has come his way since.

“I think Rob has been exceptional,” Matthew Upson, Green’s West Ham and England team-mate, said. “Everyone can see the mistake. He acknowledged the mistake. But you’ve got to get your concrete head on and do whatever will allow you to focus on performing well on Friday. He’s tough. He’s coped brilliantly. It’s behind him, he knows what he’s got to do.”

David James, the most experienced of England’s three goalkeepers, is regarded as an outside bet for Friday, having fallen out of favour.