FABIO CAPELLO looks set to be forced into a major rethink just one match into this World Cup campaign with injuries and poor performances prompting changes for a game against Algeria rendered more significant by failure to beat the Americans in Rustenburg on Saturday night.

There was a surprising uncertainty about the Italian’s approach, with the normally self-assured coach apparently deciding against using Joe Cole early in the week after the team’s last friendly and in favour of playing Robert Green in goal just a couple of hours before kick off.

Both moves backfired, with James Milner hopelessly off the pace on the left side of midfield, while Green gifted the USA their goal shortly before half-time when he attempted to gather a harmless-looking shot from 25 yards by Clint Dempsey.

Milner had to be replaced after just half an hour and to add to Capello’s problems, Ledley King hobbled out of the game at half-time, suffering from a groin strain that is likely to sideline him for the match in Cape Town.

Jamie Carragher will most likely start in the Tottenham defender’s place, although his performance here will not have inspired much confidence.

Nor will that of Emile Heskey who, after playing a key role in setting up Steven Gerrard’s finely worked goal after just four minutes, faded from view.

Clearly, though, the issue of who plays in goal is the most pressing one for a manager who has only seen his side keep clean sheets in 25 games since taking over two and a half years ago.

David James looked to be laying the PR groundwork for a comeback in the mixed zone after the game with the long time number one putting in rather an extended appearance for somebody who hadn’t featured in the game.

But Capello is widely believed to have been inclined towards handing Joe Hart the goalkeeper’s jersey on Saturday before an apparent late change of mind.

The game itself was not quite 1950, perhaps, with the Americans managing to upset the English but not quite scandalise the nation in the manner of the 1-0 win in Brazil.

If Green had not slipped up so badly, indeed, the English would probably have hung on for what would have been regarded as a solid opening match victory.

Certainly there were positives to be taken, with both full backs doing well, particularly when pushing forward, Aaron Lennon looking uncontainable at times and Gerrard, like a couple of others, starting brightly.

As for the problems, insisted Carragher afterwards, there is still time to iron them out. “Before I came today out I was watching the opening game from Italia ’90 against the Republic of Ireland,” he said. “We had our troubles that night but it all got forgotten about as the tournament went on.

“Obviously, you have to start playing well or it will all fall apart eventually but we have time to do that and tonight was a decent performance. On another night there were a few chances that we could have put away.”

The Americans were understandably pleased too, with the draw seen as a major step towards securing their place in the second round, and perhaps even topping the group.

“Of course we’re happy,” said captain Carlos Bocanegra. “We’ve started the tournament with a point against a team some people rate as their favourites. So it’s nice for us to get off on the right foot and we look forward to Slovenia.

The Americans might actually have taken all three points for Jozy Altidore, whose pace and movement was a constant source of difficulties for the England centre backs, forced a very fine stop from Green after leaving Carragher for dead with 25 minutes remaining.

On balance, though, the draw was fair, for it was the English who made most of the running, even if their opponents succeeded well in containing them most of the time.

Wayne Rooney, in particular, was very well marshalled, while the defensive midfield pairing of Ricardo Clark and Michael Bradley kept Gerrard and Frank Lampard at bay very effectively.

It would be difficult to imagine either team not qualifying but while the Americans will prepare for their next appearance with confidence enhanced, for England there will be heightened pressure not just to win but to turn in a bit of a performance at Green Point.