Green made to wait to learn his fate

The England manager claims that he has made his mind up, but refused to change his ways by revealing the identity of his No 1 yesterday and will keep his players guessing until a few hours before kick-off.

Green did not help his cause in training by spilling the ball in a similar manner to the gaffe that led to a goal for the United States on Saturday. The mistake drew shocked gasps from onlookers at Cape Town Stadium last night, but he recovered his composure to come through the rest of the session and is expected to keep his place.

Capello will make a late check on the West Ham United goalkeeper’s state of mind before confirming his plans, with Green preparing to tell the manager that he is focused and desperate to play.

“I have decided, but we have to wait until tomorrow,” Capello said. “I haven’t told the goalkeeper. I always tell them the day of the game. Never the day before. I’d prefer not to change.

“Three times in my first year in management, at AC Milan, I’d tell the players if they were playing on the day before. After dinner I’d speak with the players and say whether they would play. But if they got injured the next day it was difficult to get the other players ready to play. So I stopped. I have not done it since. All the players here are ready and focused.”

Capello’s remaining selection quandaries appear to have been resolved, with Gareth Barry coming into midfield in place of James Milner and Jamie Carragher holding off the challenge of Matthew Upson and Michael Dawson to start alongside John Terry in central defence.