England produced their worst performance of manager Fabio Capello’s reign, in a poor Group C encounter in Cape Town.

After gifting goals to the opposition in their opening games, both sides’ first-choice goalkeepers were dropped. But replacements, David James and Rais M’Bohli, had little to do.

England created some half-chances but were largely restricted to shots from outside the penalty area, while Les Fennecs were neat and tidy in possession but almost completely non-threatening.

England’s first clear chance came on 33 minutes when Frank Lampard latched onto a half-cleared Aaron Lennon right-wing cross and drove a left-footed shot low to M’Bohli’s left, the keeper clinging onto the ball at full-stretch.

Algeria’s Ryad Boudebouz briefly had a clear sight of goal in the opening minutes but chose to step over the ball and the chance went.

Their only first-half shot in anger was playmaker Karim Ziani’s 35^th minute right-foot drive from the edge of the box which flashed wide of James’s right-hand post.

On 62 minutes, Lennon’s dinked cross from the left was flicked away from the on-rushing Rooney at the far-post by Rafik Halliche. And Gerrard had a header from the edge of the box on 71 minutes straight at M’Bohli.

But that was it. Before the end of the match the booing of the huge England following could be heard above even the noise of the vuvuzelas.

And England’s shame was complete when Wayne Rooney criticised the travelling fans’ reaction in a sarcastic on-camera outburst at the final whistle.