Possibilities and permutations debated by the assembled British punditry in Cape Town

It was a commentators' and pundits' convention in Cape Town today, as the creme de la creme of British-based broadcasters rolled in to Green Point Stadium to cover England's crunch Group C encounter against Algeria tonight.

Ally McCoist, Martin Tyler, Andy Townsend, Chris Waddle, Mark Lawrenson, Gary Lineker, Clive Tydlesley and, of course, Gabby Logan were just some the voices and faces that - week-in, week-out - debate the performances of English clubs on behalf of fans across the British Isles and the world.

On Friday, however, the satellite throng were handling the trials and tribulations of the national team. With a 22,000-strong Three Lions contingent in Cape Town, and millions more armchair viewers in England, expectations among the press corps pack were high.






Donovan scores past the ducking Handanovic. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

As the afternoon wore on, McCoist, sitting opposite me in the media centre during the US-Slovenia game, became increasingly convinced that David James would replace Robert Green in goal for England. Tyler, less outspoken, was nonetheless adamant that if so many people were saying it, "then it can't be wrong."

Intriguingly, McCoist and Tyler also thoroughly debated all the possible permutations in Group D - the tournament's 'Group of Death'.

As McCoist speculated that the German bubble had burst following their 1-0 defeat to Serbia, Tyler opined that Australia will beat Ghana and ensure Group D's four sides will be on identical points going into the final games of the opening stage.

Back to the present though and Tyler remonstrating that Landon Donovan's goal against Slovenia, which made the score 2-1 to the Europeans, would never have gone in "if the 'keeper just stood up."

It is not something the football-loving public usually concede to the modern crop of on-the-fence commentators, but he's spot on about that one.