NO England fan would have predicted that they would be hanging on for the last group game against Slovenia to qualify after the press dubbed England's group the 'easy' one in the run-up to the competition.
South Africa 2010 has been the tournament of the underdog with the current World and European Champions, Italy and Spain respectively, struggling to produce results in their groups, so it's almost comforting to know that England are not alone in their struggle.
There have been arguments on and off the pitch - a fiery encounter between Brazil and the Ivory Coast last night (Sunday) and a players' revolt in the French team camp has provided the papers with enough material to fill the gaps that England's lack of goals has created.
This afternoon (Monday) Portugal smashed North Korea 7-0 in what was one of the most convincing team displays of the tournament. Now it's time for England to take a leaf out of their book as the Three Lions prepare for their crunch game with Slovenia on Wednesday.
England are without the injured Ledley King with Jamie Carragher suspended and manager Fabio Capello has announced that West Ham defender Matthew Upson will play in Port Elizabeth in two days time.
As England fans were left stunned and disappointed on Friday night, we got the expert opinions from our Watford World Cup correspondents home and away.
The view from South Africa: John Anderson
"All is clearly not well in Camp Capello. England's pitiful display against Algeria portrays a squad playing with fear instead of fortitude, caution rather than confident and, worst of all, lacking that most English of qualities, a fighting spirit. Cape Town became Cape Fear.
"And yet this is essentially the same group of undoubtedly talented players who took the national team so imperiously to qualification with eight straight wins.
"So what has gone wrong in the intervening months? Well, to be around the England camp in Rustenburg is to enter a joyless world of autocratic pragmatism in which the players do not seen to be revelling in the World Cup experience on or off the field.
"Maybe Capello's single minded, no nonsense approach which reaped dividends during the short qualification trips is beginning to wear thin after four claustrophobic weeks in Austria and South Africa.
"Personnel and tactics may well be changed as we approach what is essentially a play-off against Slovenia, but what we need most of all is a little freedom of spirit and joie de vivre with which to cast off the shackles of reticence and play with some guile and gusto.
"The only positive note I can draw from the horror show against Algeria, is to hope that it has served as a call to arms. If so, I believe England will prevail in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday..."
The view from the sofa: Jon Marks
"I always try and look for positives so let's start with one - we are still in the competition and we still have the chance to qualify for the knockout stages.
"I am no expert in tactics and formations but even to me it seems odd that Steven Gerrard was switched to the left as the formation remained 4-4-2.
"I don't understand why you would play players in totally different positions to those that they play week in, week out.
"The team looked nervous and just didn't seem to play with any belief that they could win the game. English players aren't used to playing at walking pace and that is what was happening.
"We want to see the likes of Aaron Lennon taking on his full-back and getting to the by-line and getting crosses in - but he kept coming inside and never used his pace.
"But it's not all over yet - a win, however which way we can get it, on Wednesday and then who knows what could happen in the next round. I remember 1990 and this is very similar - I hope history can repeat itself this year!"
