England will wear ‘lucky’ all-red strip in World Cup showdown with Slovenia

Fired-up Steven Gerrard last night vowed England would not let the nation down in today’s do-or-die World Cup clash.

He will lead England out against Slovenia in the “lucky” all red strip.

Gerrard said his side recognised the dire 0-0 draw against Algeria was not good enough – especially for the 20,000 supporters who “paid good money” to get here.

The under-fire players are desperate to make amends, especially after the controversy over John Terry’s comments this week.

Skipper Gerrard said: “As players and for me as captain we have to switch our attention to this game because it is a do-or-die situation.


“We need to improve on our last performance but we have looked good, really sharp in training and we are ready to go out and do the business.

“I can certainly understand why the fans were angry after our last match. They pay good money to come here and there were big expectations for this tournament.

“They want to see us win football matches and we have to take responsibility for under-performing and change the perception of how we have done so far.

“We want to make the nation proud and happy with a good win. We let the country down and I can see the hunger is there to put things right.

“There is that feeling you get when you have not done yourself justice.”

Boss Fabio Capello dismissed the Terry controversy and described the defender as “world class” and one of our best players.

He said: “Dropping him? That possibility does not exist. He is one our most important players. That is out of my mind and I think the players are really focused on this game.

“The result is the most important. There is pressure because we just have to win. There is no other result.”

It will be the first time in 15 years that England will wear an all-red kit some view as a good omen.

We lost the last time it got a run-out – a 3-1 defeat to Brazil in 1995 – but we have won three and drawn the other in the only five games we have ever played in all red.

In 1962 we beat Peru 4-0 in a friendly before drawing 0-0 with Bulgaria at the World Cup in Chile in the same year – a result which put us through to the next round.

England wore all red for Bobby Moore’s first game as captain against Czechoslovakia in 1963, when we ran out 4-2 winners.

And we triumphed again in all-red in 1970, beating Belgium 3-1.

Fans also hope the curse of ITV – two dire draws – can be lifted as this afternoon’s match is on BBC1.

We revealed yesterday how England have won 62% of games shown exclusively on BBC1 at World Cups while we have triumphed in just 30% of those screened by ITV.

Energy companies are bracing ­themselves for a massive surge in demand at 3pm today as thousands of businesses and homes turn on TVs.

Research by npower found 58% of businesses plan to raise morale and combat absenteeism by letting fans watch the game. And 39% plan to screen the match at their places of work. England’s army of fans in South Africa will be swelled by millions after the host nation crashed out of the tournament yesterday.

Many South African supporters are expected to switch ­allegiances to Fabio Capello’s side.

Port Elizabeth policeman Kishore Humsraj, 40, explained: “The English league is so well followed there are millions of fans over here and many will be rooting for them from now.

“South Africa played really well and made us proud but it wasn’t enough. Now I will definitely be supporting England instead.” Another local, Sazi Vanda, 21, said: “I will be supporting Ghana, as they are African. I will also be cheering for England.

“The English league is the best in the world and it would be fantastic if they won the World Cup.” ­Meanwhile it emerged World Cup flops France were ordered to pack their bags and their passports even before their last-ditch group clash with South Africa yesterday.

The shamed players were not allowed to return to their luxury hotel and were taken straight the airport. Then there was the further humiliation of a standard class flight back to Paris.

France lost 2-1 to South Africa, who went out. The French ended the tournament in chaos with players refusing to train after Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka was sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech. Fast-food chain Quick has cancelled an ad campaign featuring Anelka.

In Port Elizabeth, England fans Demi and Alice Curtin, both 17, from Bournemouth, said: “We think we’ll win 2-0 and Frank Lampard will score the first goal. Then we’ll go all the way.”