Source: Team_Talk
Carra: Fans have right to boo
Jamie Carragher has defended the right of England fans to criticise the team if they produce the kind of performance evident against Algeria.[LNB] England's World Cup future is hanging in the balance after a goalless draw in Cape Town means they have to overcome Slovenia on Wednesday.[LNB]The final whistle was greeted with boos from some sections of fans and this led to them being criticised by Rooney.[LNB]But Carragher feels they are entitled to air their opinions particularly after spending considerable amounts of money to follow the team to South Africa.[LNB]The Liverpool defender said: "I feel the supporters in the stadium were perfectly entitled to boo the team. I've never had a problem with that.[LNB]"I've always said fans should support during the game but, at the end, they're right to let us know when they're not happy.[LNB]"It's not as if they've only travelled around the corner to watch us.[LNB]"We're on the other side of the world and they've paid a lot of money and made a lot of effort to come and see us do well.[LNB]"We need to give them something to cheer about.[LNB]"I think we have to applaud the fans for the support they've given us and make sure we're here a lot longer."[LNB]Carragher is aware of the criticism the team will receive for their inept showing although little of it will filter through to their Rustenburg base.[LNB]He said: "We know there will be a lot of criticism flying around.[LNB]"To be honest, we don't get much of a sense of what's happening, or what's being said at home, whether it's negative or positive and that's probably for the best.[LNB]"I've been at tournaments where we've played well and the country was buzzing back home, but you had no sense of it.[LNB]"It's the same when the reaction is negative. I'll get texts and hear things, but you have to take the rough with the smooth and get on with your job."[LNB]Carragher believes England can still retrieve the situation and points to his earliest memories of the World Cup to back up this claim.[LNB]He said: "England have recovered from this kind of situation before.[LNB]"Some of my first memories of watching football as a kid were of the World Cup in 1986 and 1990. People look back at those tournaments now and say we did well.[LNB]"We were unlucky against Argentina in 1986 and got to the semis in 1990 - but I remember a lot of criticism of the side after their first two games of both tournaments.[LNB]"We lost one and drew one in Mexico and drew the first two games in Italy.[LNB]"It's not about how you start, it's about how you're playing in the later stages, which is why we're desperate to improve and put these two games behind us."[LNB]Carragher admitted: "I expected the first game against the USA to be cagey, but there is no getting away from the fact it was disappointing against Algeria.[LNB]"In a funny way, if we get out of this situation I believe it will help us.[LNB]"Sometimes when you only have one last chance, if you get through it, there's a momentum which builds and the team spirit gets stronger.[LNB]"Sometimes the bigger the game, the more it brings out of us as a team. We know exactly what we have to do now. It's effectively starting the knockout stage now.[LNB]"Everything is on a knife edge. We have to go out there and win and it's possible a lot of the tension of the first few games will go. There will be no backwards steps now.[LNB]"There's no need for us to play with any fear. It shouldn't be an issue. They're the same players who did so well in qualifying and reproducing that form will see us turn the situation around."[LNB]
