Carragher: Green should remain England’s keeper despite blunder against US at World Cup

Carragher: Green should remain England’s keeper

RUSTENBURG, South Africa — England defender Jamie Carragher says Robert Green should remain in goal in Friday’s World Cup match against Algeria despite his blunder against the United States.

Green fumbled Clint Dempsey’s 25-yard shot into the goal, giving the Americans an equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Group C on Saturday.

“He will have no problem and will come back,” Carragher said Monday.

England coach Fabio Capello said he will assess Green “psychologically” before deciding whether the 30-year-old West Ham keeper will start Friday in Cape Town.

“He seems fine, no problem,” Carragher said. “Every player in the squad has been there where we’ve made a big mistake in a big game. But the reason that you are playing for England and you get to this level is that you have a certain amount of mental strength.

“The rest of the lads will get round him — we’ve all been there.”

While Green faced widespread derision in England’s Sunday newspapers, by Monday much of the hostility was aimed at Capello. Critics questioned whether Capello’s decision to tell Green he was starting just two hours before kickoff meant he wasn’t in the right mindset to focus on the game.

“A lot of the managers don’t like to give the team away for fear of the opposition finding out about the team,” Carragher said. “For me, it also keeps everyone on their toes. If you give the team out earlier, how do you know if it is going to affect training?

“The people in the side might take it easy and the ones who are not playing might … not train properly … but in any case, a lot of players have a fair idea what the team might be.”