England's World Cup hopes hang in the balance after they were held to a goalless draw by Algeria in Cape Town.

Fabio Capello's side must now beat Slovenia in their final group match to ensure a place in the last 16.

But they will need a drastic improvement on this poor performance to overcome the current group leaders.

Goalkeeper Robert Green paid the price for his blunder against the United States as he was replaced by David James for the World Cup meeting with Algeria in Cape Town.

James earned his first start in a competitive international for 14 months since the World Cup qualifier with Ukraine at Wembley in April 2009.

Green was axed after gifting USA midfielder Clint Dempsey an equaliser in the 1-1 draw in Rustenburg last weekend.

Gareth Barry, who played in eight of the 10 qualifiers, returned in midfield in place of James Milner after convincing Fabio Capello he had fully recovered from his ankle injury.

Jamie Carragher was named in the starting X1 for the first time since the friendly international against Brazil in June 2007 - the first game at the new Wembley.

He then announced his retirement from international football but was persuaded to have a change of heart by Capello.

The Liverpool defender replaced Ledley King who was substituted with a groin injury at half-time against USA.

Emile Heskey kept his place in attack alongside Wayne Rooney in preference to Jermain Defoe.

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane followed the example of Capello in axing his keeper Faouzi Chaouchi after his goal-costing error against Slovenia and replaced him with Rais Bolhi.

Algerian striker Abdelkader Ghezzal was suspended for the game following his sending-off against Slovenia after appearing as a substitute.

Around three quarters of the Green Point stadium was filled with England supporters.

Madjid Bougherra brought down Ashley Cole to concede an early free-kick.

Heskey got on the end of Steven Gerrard's centre but misdirected his header.

Algerian keeper Bolhi then gathered another cross from the England skipper at full stretch.

But England were given a warning they would not have everything their own way after five minutes when Karim Matmour cut the ball back across the box but Ryad Boudebouz completely miskicked.

Ashley Cole made a good break into the Algerian box but took one touch too many and Bougherra was able to intercept.

James did not look confident when dealing with a cross from Boudebouz under pressure from Karim Matmour and failed to make a clean contact on his attempted punch.

A quick free-kick from Hassan Yebda found Boudebouz in space and allowed him a run at the England box but he dragged his shot well wide.

Carragher was then relieved to slice a clearance into the hands of James when trying to deal with a low cross from Nadir Belhadj.

It was not the most convincing of starts by England and their opponents looked comfortable on the ball

James had to make the first save of the game in holding on to Yebda's header from Karim Ziani's cross.

Then Barry had to make a crucial interception to cut out a dangerous cross from Bougherra with Yebda waiting to pounce behind him inside the six-yard box.

Central defender John Terry needed treatment after being caught on the back of the head by Bougherra before resuming.

It was half an hour before England had a shot on target with Gerrard shooting straight at Bolhi from 20 yards out after exchanging passes with Rooney.

The goalkeeper did well two minutes later to save a low attempt from Frank Lampard away to his left after Rafik Halliche had headed out an Aaron Lennon centre.

Barry lost possession to Matmour who found Ziani in space but, after cutting inside Glen Johnson, he clipped his shot past the post.

At the other end of the pitch Barry's low drive did not extend the keeper after he had controlled a Lennon ball across the box.

England started to enjoy more possession in their opponents half but it was still far from convincing and their thousands of fans were subdued.

Rooney had his first attempt on goal after 42 minutes but again Bolhi was not seriously tested.

The half-time whistle was greeted with a smattering of boos from the England fans.

Capello decided not to make any half-time changes despite his side's laboured performance in the opening 45 minutes.

Bougherra was alert in cutting out a Rooney flick intended for Gerrard after Heskey had headed on a long clearance from James.

Yebda was over-ambitious with a 45-yard free-kick even allowing for the swerving ball and Johnson was able to clear.

Heskey was found in space by Gerrard but his control was poor and his eventual cross drifted out of play.

Lampard had time to exploit an opening down the right but produced a poor cross and Medhi Lacen was able to intercept.

Carragher was booked after 58 minutes for blocking off the run of Yebda just outside the England box.

It means the Liverpool defender will miss the final group game against Slovenia as it was his second yellow card of the tournament and it will present a chance for either Matthew Upson or Michael Dawson.

Ziani touched the free-kick to Anther Yahia but he dragged his shot well wide.

Capello made his first substitution after 62 minutes with Lennon replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

But England were still struggling to impose themselves on opponents placed 30th in the FIFA rankings.

Halliche got in an important interception to deflect a shot from Heskey onto the roof of the net.

It was the last contribution of the Aston Villa striker before he was replaced by Jermain Defoe after 73 minutes.

At the same juncture Algeria made a switch with Boudebouz making way for Djamal Abdoun.

England started to exert more pressure as the game entered the final quarter of an hour.

Ziani looked to be suffering from cramp and was replaced by Adlane Guedioura with nine minutes remaining.

Peter Crouch was brought on for Barry two minutes later as England searched for a late winner before Lacen was yellow carded for bringing down Wright-Phillips.

An 88th minute shot from Lampard which went well wide was the signal for a chorus of boos from the England supporters.

Algeria tried to wind down the clock and made another change when Djamel Mesbah came on for Yebda in the last minute of normal time.