Last-chance saloon for troubled England

PORT ELIZABETH - England's World Cup campaign is in tatters with crisis meetings, furious fans, misfiring strikers and splits in the camp and a win against Slovenia on Wednesday is their only hope of salvation.

In less than two weeks, England have gone from talented contenders to sulking underachievers, presenting unfashionable newcomers Slovenia with a chance to top the standings and revel in the sinking their famous Group C rivals.

Slovenia, who failed to reached the second round on their debut as an independent nation in 2002, lead the group on four points followed by the United States and England on two and Algeria, who play the US in Pretoria, with one.