Mexico beat France; Serbia beat Germany; Slovenia leading USA. All of a sudden, it's the 2010 World Cupset. Can Algeria continue the trend?

I'm Caroline Cheese and I'll be taking you through the build-up to this crucial match for England's - and indeed Algeria's - World Cup hopes. Jonathan Stevenson, currently overseeing a tense end to the Slovenia-USA game, will be along in a little bit to steer you through the game in Cape Town. How are the nerves then?

Traditionally, at this stage before an England game, I'd have butterflies, but Germany's shock defeat has just left me confused. If England now top their group, they could face the Germans - and we all know how that one ends. But maybe England would be better off facing Germany? I mean, Serbia looked dangerous...  One thing is clear though: England HAVE TO WIN TONIGHT.

The word, if you somehow managed to miss it (and very well done, by the way, if you did), is that David James will replace Rob Green in England's goal tonight. Gareth Barry will definitely start, almost certainly in place of James Milner, meaning Steven Gerrard moves back out to the left-ish of midfield. Don Fabio is also considering putting Jermain Defoe up front with Wayne Rooney. Your thoughts are welcome as always on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide), on 606 or on Twitter.

All over in Ellis Park and USA battle back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Slovenia, with the Americans unlucky to have a late goal ruled out. It means Slovenia are top of Group C with four points, but a convincing win for England over Algeria would send Capello's men top, and leave them probably needing only a point from their final game against Slovenia. That sound about right?

Algeria boss Rabah Saadane has promised to keep faith with his calamity keeper Faouzi Chaouchi - providing he recovers from a knee injury. If not, 24-year-old Rais M'Bolhi is set to come in and would win only his second cap. The other option is former first-choice keeper Lounes Gaouaoui, but he has been out of favour.

Lucky England fans out in South Africa have not only been able to take in the stunning city of Cape Town today, they've also lapped up a shock defeat for Germany. Only an England win would make their day better. BBC Sport's James Pearce mingled with the England and Algeria fans on the waterfront earlier today and managed to find the biggest England flag I've ever seen.

Emile Heskey has got the nod up front, report Sky Sports. Capello was considering playing Jermain Defoe - because of the Tottenham striker's pace and because of his concerns over the Jabulani ball. The thinking was that Defoe's presence might encourage England to play more short passes, with the ball particularly difficult to control in the air. But clearly, if the Heskey news proves correct, he's not that concerned.

Just watching England's coach crawling through some heavy traffic on its way to the Cape Town Stadium. It's Fabio Capello's 64th birthday today, and daring BBC reporter Gaby Logan sang a bit of the famous Beatles song for the Italian, who looked completely baffled until Gaby presented him with a bottle of red wine. "Oh thank you, " says a smiling Don Fab. "It's a long time that I don't drink wine!" You can have some tonight, Fabio... But only if England win by three goals.

Former England defender Lee Dixon says Gareth Barry's return to the team is a big plus for England. “Barry's presence is a boost on two levels because it means there is cover for the attacking runs of another midfield player, and he also covers the slight weakness that we have got at the back, namely the lack of pace among the two centre-backs if Jamie Carragher starts [which he does].”

It would be very easy to underestimate Algeria: they were pretty poor in their opening defeat against Slovenia; they warmed up for the World Cup with 3-0 defeats by Republic of Ireland and Serbia and a scrappy win over the United Arab Emirates; they haven't scored a World Cup goal since 1986, a drought of five hours and one minute.

FourFourTwo magazine also reveal Algeria's entire squad has scored 48 goals – fewer than England's midfielders combined (54). Only striker Rafik Saifi has reached double figures (with 18). A real Desert Fox in the box then... (I do apologise)

Still, the Algerians remain in bullish mood. Stung by Wayne Rooney's remark that England "can not be at our best and win the game", Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra responded: “Rooney can say what he wants. It’s his problem. We will play to win this game. Algeria always react when we are under pressure. You saw that in the play-off against Egypt.”

And there's more... Sochaux midfielder Ryad Boudebouz, at 20 one of Algeria's most promising players, said: "England are the team under pressure. They are the ones who claimed that they came here to win the World Cup." And Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj says his team will use pace to threaten the England defence: "The defence is one of England's weak points, it's easy to create chances against them."

Jonathan Stevenson will be along with his (not so) famous predo soon. But here's some special guest predos, first from Prince William: "Obviously 10-0 would be quite nice but I’m not sure that’s realistic. 3-0 or something like that. A message for the team? Win, win, win." And now, Prince Harry: "A win would be fantastic - but I don’t think we should put a number on it. 1-0 would be enough. A win's a win."

I'll bring you full teams as soon as I can, but I'm hearing Algeria have the inexperienced Rais M'Bolhi in goal instead of Faouzi Chaouchi, who presumably failed to recover from that knee injury. M'Bolhi, 24, will win only his second cap tonight.

England: James, Johnson, Carragher, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lennon, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Heskey.
Subs: Green, Dawson, Crouch, Joe Cole, Warnock, Upson, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Defoe, King, Carrick, Hart.
Algeria: M'Bohli, Bougherra, Belhadj, Yahia, Kadir, Yebda, Lacen, Halliche, Boudebouz, Ziani, Matmour.
Subs: Gaouaoui, Mansouri, Ghezzal, Saifi, Djebbour, Bellaid, Laifaoui, Guedioura, Medjani, Mesbah, Abdoun, Chaouchi.
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

According to Times journalist Oliver Kay, Algeria keeper Rais M'Bohli was invited for a trial with Manchester United last month. The 24-year-old currently plays for Bulgarian side Slavia Sofia. As M'Bohli wins his second cap tonight, David James wins his 51st. The Portsmouth keeper has kept 19 clean sheets.

Over to you Jonathan Stevenson in South Africa, but just be aware you're up against the Princes William and Harry in the prediction stakes (see 1815). Good luck...

I really like the bit when the referee walks out of the tunnel and picks up the match ball from the plin- oh, hello there, was miles away. I actually am miles away in all probability, so welcome back to Johannesburg with me, Jonathan Stevenson, for the Group C contest between England and Algeria. A pretty big evening awaits.

I know, what a horribly contrived opening. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest though, isn’t it? OK, fair point, it’ll never happen again. I think I’m feeling the same as you – a little nervous, a little sick, a little excited, a little of everything. Whoever you support, England or Algeria, an enormous game of football is taking place in Cape Town tonight.

English, Algerian or from the moon: I want to know what’s going on in your mind right now. Don’t make me bleed it out of you, just drop me a line and then we can all get on with our lives. If you know how to text (81111 for UK and +44 7786200666 for worldwide), tweet (@Stevo_football) or have your say on 606, there are no excuses for not doing so. And if you don’t know, how was being born yesterday, incidentally?

England 3-0 Algeria

Blame the future King of England (see 18:15) if it’s wrong, not me. Though I’m delighted to have at least one thing in common with the tall, handsome, well-off second-in-line-to-the-throne.

England coach Fabio Capello makes three changes to the side that started against the USA, preferring David James to the dropped Robert Green in goal, bringing Jamie Carragher in for injured centre-back Ledley King and replacing midfielder James Milner with the fit-against Gareth Barry. Algeria also drop their goalkeeper as Faouzi Chaouchi makes way for Rais M'Bolhi and their only other change sees Ryad Boudebouz start ahead of Rafik Djebbour.

1. England are unbeaten in all 15 previous matches against African opposition.
2. Algeria have lost all three games against Euro teams in 2010, agg score 0-7.
3. England’s only previous WC game on 18 June came in 1986, with 3-0 win over Paraguay (Lineker 2, Beardsley).
4. Fourteen years ago today, England spanked Netherlands 4-1 at Euro 96, the performance of a generation.
5. Wayne Rooney has failed to score in his last six England games.
6. Algeria have lost their last three WC games without scoring. It’s 301 minutes of WC footy since they scored – Djamel Zidane netting vs Northern Ireland in 1986.
7. Sixteen members of Algeria’s squad were born in France.

“I respect Algeria. They have scored a lot from counter-attacks and set-pieces and I have learned a lot about them. It would be a big mistake to think this game will be easy. I hope we score goals and take our chances.”

“I think it will be an important match for both teams. I think we'll see a good match, it's the World Cup so undoubtedly it will be a fine spectacle and that's in the interests of the tournament. I have a lot of respect for Mr Capello and the England team, we don’t have any questions to ask.”

Our friends at Infostrada Sports tell us that goalkeeper David James at 39 years and 321 days old becomes the seventh-oldest player in the World Cup - and the oldest debutant in the competition. Also, Fabio Capello is the fourth coach to have a birthday on the day of a World Cup match. The other three are Rudolf Kock (SWE) in 1950, Tomislav Ivic (YUG) in 1974 and Antonio Oliveira (POR) in 2002.

The players are out, so shhhh for the anthems.

If I could be anywhere in the world right now... Magical atmosphere in Cape Town, this is why we watch football, isn't it? Not long now folks.

Captains of their countries Steven Gerrard and Anther Yahia exchange pennants in the centre-circle and toss the coin with Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov and we are very close to getting under way.

England give the ball back to Algeria, Algeria give it straight back to England and then England let Algeria have another go. Summary: scrappy, wasteful start.

Ryad Boudebouz goes in hard on Gareth Barry, sending the Man City midfielder flying into the air, but he did get some of the ball too.

Rais M Bolhi has had a very shaky start in the Algeria goal and his attempted clearance finds Wayne Rooney 30 yards out. But Rooney doesn't shoot and neither does Steven Gerrard and England miss their chance.

Quiet start, relatively speaking in terms of the day's events. Bubbling under nicely might be another way of putting it.

First camera shot of David Beckham, sitting on the England bench. Come on, who had 11 minutes?

High ball pumped into the England box sees David James punch unconvincingly into the air and then Glen Johnson lazily volley a clearance about 10 yards, but England survive.

Aaron Lennon collects the ball on the inside right channel 30 yards out and quickly feeds Steven Gerrard, but the midfielder's first-time shot balloons high over the crossbar. England are having most of the ball at the moment.

Both teams conceded howlers in their first games and you can see signs that they are both nervy at the back. Karim Ziani crosses from the left and Jamie Carragher slices an attempted clearance into the arms of David James. Hmm.

Really good spell of pressure for Algeria, but it ends with David James catching Karim Ziani's cross inside his six-yard box. England are giving it away too easily, and we've said that before.

Nice exchange of passes down the Algerian right but this time it ends with Ryad Boudebouz hitting a first-time left-foot shot that doesn't trouble David James. In fact, it goes out for a throw. But England are on the back foot in Cape Town.

Nadir Belhadj issues a challenge to his Portsmouth team-mate David James by whipping an inswinging corner under the England bar, but James claims it impressively under pressure from two Algerians.

Fabio Capello is annoyed because he thinks Emile Heskey should have won a free-kick for England after being fouled 25 yards from the Algerian goal. He's probably right, too. At the other end John Terrry gets a bang on the head and he needs a bit of treatment.

England are having a little bit more of the ball here and Steven Gerrard shoots low from just outside the box, it's a comfortable save for Rais M Bolhi.

Algeria are getting some joy down their left, but Nadir Belhadj's cross bounces into the arms of David James. England are still giving the ball away far too cheaply.

Good save Rais M Bolhi. Aaron Lennon fires in a cross from the right and after an Algerian defender half-heads it away it falls for Frank Lampard, who sees his left-foot shot from 12 yards stopped well.

Gareth Barry is caught in possession too easily in the Algeria half and the African side break with pace. Karim Ziani cuts inside Jamie Carragher on the edge of the England box and fires a shot a couple of yards wide of David James's right-hand post.

Glen Johnson sends over a low cross from the right and the ball balloons up into the air on the edge of the Algeria box - when it lands, Steven Gerrard spanks a volley miles over.

England are having a slightly better spell now and they work the ball from the right to Gareth Barry 20 yards out where he shoots at Rais M Bolhi.

You can hear sporadic screams from the England bench, with Fabio Capello and coach Stuart Pearce both lambasting their players at times. It's uncomfortable watching from that technical area, but I reckon Rabah Saadane and his staff will be sitting pretty in the other one.

Wayne Rooney fashions a yard of space 30 yards out but the striker cannot get enough on the shot and it dips into the clutches of Algeria's 24-year-old goalkeeper Rais M Bolhi.

Seen anything so far that makes you want to vent your spleen? Is the old blood boiling? Think of me as an anger outlet: Tweet me @Stevo_football; type away on the 606 page; and thumb a text to 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide). I think it’s what I’m here for.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're back under way in Cape Town.

Karim Matmour's heels are clipped by Jamie Carragher and Algeria have a free-kick about 35 yards from the England goal. Anther Yahia is going to shoot, you know...

Anther Yahia's shot hits the wall but Karim Ziani gets past Glen Johnson down the left moments later, only for Johnson to make a fine recovery challenge.

Those scrabbling around for a slither of good news might like this nugget from our friends at Infostrada Sports: apparently England are unbeaten in their last four World Cup matches when the half time score was 0-0. Their last defeat was 12 years ago against Romania (1-2).

Emile Heskey collects the ball down the England right, almost falls over trying to do a step-over and sends a cross behind for a goalkick. I'm honestly not making it up.

Gareth Barry gives the ball away for the umpteenth time today and England are only spared an Algerian counter-attack when Karim Matmour plays the wrong pass and gives it away.

What's wrong with these players tonight? Steven Gerrard, in acres of space on the right of the area, has three England players to pass to and finds the only covering Algerian. It's hard to believe such good players can do such bad things sometimes.

Karim Ziani tees up Anther Yahia and he drags it badly wide of David James's right-hand post. There's an astonishing lack of quality on show to say this is a World Cup game.

Rais M Bolhi comes for a Steven Gerrard corner and claims at the second attempt. He's had a decent evening the young keeper, after a shaky start in Cape Town.

John Terry sells David James short and the keeper does well to be alert enough to race off his line and clear the danger. That's what fear does.

Shaun Wright-Phillips does well to get past Nadir Belhadj and the left-back brings England's sub down. Good position for a free-kick as John Terry jogs forward, but nothing comes of it.

Karim Matmour races Jamie Carragher to a ball over the top of the England defence and with David James static, Carragher does well to boot the ball out for a throw. It's pretty desperate stuff, this.

Steven Gerrard plays a lovely pass in for Emile Heskey on the right of the area and his shot is deflected over by Rafik Halliche. From the corner, Steven Gerrard heads at Rais M Bolhi.

The onus is on England to go and win this game, but it isn't an onus they seem particularly comfortable with. Steven Gerrard has stepped it up in the last few moments, but is anyone with him? Wayne Rooney fires way off target from outside the box.

Better exchange of passes between Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and Jermain Defoe is only prevented from shooting by a last-ditch challenge inside the Algeria penalty area.

Infostrada Sports tell us that only once has a team gone on to win the World Cup after drawing its first two matches: Italy in 1982. Hmmm.

Gareth Barry slams a shot in from the edge of the area but it hits Fouad Kadir and Algeria clear their lines. They are concentrating heavily on defending now, the African side.

Wayne Rooney cuts a dejected figure at Cape Town Stadium after being dispossessed by Adlane Guedioura. Fabio gets off the bench again, and sits down again. He's been up and down more times than West Brom in the Premier League tonight (yep, I'd gladly swap places with them, before you say).

David James catches a free-kick well under pressure from lots of Algerian players and we are into the last minute of normal time in Cape Town.

England work their way well through midfield and the ball bounces for Jermain Defoe 25 yards out, but he volleys well over Rais M Bolhi's crossbar.

Wayne Rooney is adjudged to have fouled Foued Kadir and Fabio Capello rushes off the England bench to protest in disgust. We're almost done in this one.

Stay with us, because there is plenty of reaction to come from Cape Town Stadium as this World Cup of surprises just keeps on rolling.

Entertainment fans, look away now. Infostrada Sports tell us that was England's 10th goalless draw at the World Cup. No other team has more than seven: Italy, Uruguay, Brazil and (West) Germany.

"Nice to see your home fans booing you," said England striker Wayne Rooney to the television camera as he left the pitch in Cape Town.

"We're not happy, we need to improve. We weren't good enough in the final third to get the breakthrough. We're not making excuses - as a player at this level you've got to handle pressure. We weren't good enough, I don't know why."

"We still have to play another game and we hope that will be happier. I don't know if it's pressure or we're not in a good moment. We lost too many balls, it's not the same team I know."

"I don't like to speak about individual players. When you don't play well it's because of the team. I can change the tactics, I will try to do something different. It won't be difficult to lift them before Slovenia. They know what they have to do."

Maybe I'm speaking out of turn here, but Wayne Rooney saying in the week England could beat Algeria by not playing at their best, and Steven Gerrard just now saying "that was Algeria's World Cup final" - don't both of those statements smack of arrogance? England's World Cup final might take place against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday at 1500 BST.

"So, England know that if they beat Slovenia next Wednesday, they will qualify for sure. A draw is unlikely to be enough, although a very high-scoring draw would see them overtake the USA on goals scored if Bob Bradley's men draw with Algeria in a low-scoring game. Defeat means that Fabio Capello's side can start booking a late June holiday."

"We played a good team, but we played too slowly. We are not in a good moment. It's probably the pressure, perhaps, I think so. The players play well during the training. I don't know why it is. I want to see the spirit of the team and I didn't see it this evening. I said to the players it wasn't a good performance, but we are really lucky because we can play another game. I'm always confident in my team."

My mum always tried to tell me to win properly and lose properly, but she never said anything about draws that feel like defeats... Anyway, in the spirit of sport, I want to end on a massive, massive congratulations to Algeria for a truly fabulous performance. Join Chris Bevan on Saturday for the start of Day Nine. Night night.