World Cup Preview – Group C: England Expects

There’s no doubting which World Cup group will gain the most attention from fans and journalists in England and potentially further ashore too. Here at The Football Blog, it’s time to profile Group C and examine the respective chances of England, USA, Algeria and Slovenia.

With team news filtering through on a daily basis with surprise selections, injury woes and off-field shenanigans also making headlines, World Cup fever is well and truly gripping the globe.

ENGLAND HOPING TO END FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF HURT

In recent tournaments, football writers have often trotted out the same old line about the forthcoming competition being the best chance for England’s so-called ‘golden generation’ to win something.

David Beckham is one casualty from the aforementioned group and his best chance of being involved with the England camp is through the coaching role that has been offered to him.

For players such as Liverpool and Chelsea lynchpins Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, this could be their last World Cup and they’ll be hoping the chance of success this summer in South Africa doesn’t pass them by.

Fabio Capello’s England certainly have a fantastic chance of advancing to the latter stages of the competition though much will depend on the form and fitness of key players.

Wayne Rooney suffered a series of niggling injuries towards the end of the season and every England fan will be hoping that the injury curse, which seems to be customary to the preparation of every major tournament, doesn’t strike again.

Injuries aside, an always expectant footballing public would not be happy with an early exit. They also probably won’t tolerate injuries or problems adapting to altitude, something that England are addressing with a trip to Austria this week, to form the familiar litany of ready-made excuses.

Many pundits and commentators were pleased when England’s group was announced. A potentially dangerous and supremely fit USA team aside, Algeria and Slovenia should not damage England’s chances of winning their first major trophy since their 1966 World Cup success.

ARE CRACKS APPEARING IN CAPELLO’S ARMOUR FOLLOWING EXCELLENT ROUTE TO FINALS?

As highlighted on The Football Blog earlier this week, questions are starting to be asked about England manager Fabio Capello.

The steely Italian appeared to be almost immune from criticism following a superb qualifying campaign. England won nine out of ten of their group games, thrashing Croatia twice in the process to erase their Euro 2008 qualifying demons following the Croat’s advancement at the expense of the Three Lions under the unsuccessful tenure of Steve McClaren.

However a series of contentious decisions and peculiar announcements threaten to detract from the erstwhile positive mood as England approach their World Cup campaign.

These include selection decisions, namely leaving out Blackburn Rovers and former England number one goalkeeper, Paul Robinson. As reported here, this irked Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce who labelled it the “biggest mistake in his (Capello’s) selection process.”

Ledley King has impressed this season for Tottenham however owing to the much publicised chronic knee problem which limits King’s ability to play games in quick succession, surely a staple requirement of any tournament, he could face more injury woe.

Capello has gone on record as saying he is happy with King’s durability and has no doubts over his ability to last the course of the tournament.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live at the end of the season, Capello put forward the case for King’s inclusion.

“Ledley King is one of the best England defenders. He played four games in the last 15 days and told us he had no problems with his knee” he said.

The Capello Index, a player-ranking system devised by the Italian and backed by a gambling firm was designed to assess players following a game and has proved to be a curious diversion from all the usual pre-tournament chatter.

Unlike one of his predecessor’s, the marketer’s dream Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose endorsements included pasta sauce and Sainsbury’s, Capello was known for his low-key, low-profile approach to management. The FA quickly stepped in to halt the system and order appears to be restored.

TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD FOR CAPELLO AS HE PREPARES TO NAME HIS FINAL SQUAD

With the 1 June deadline to name a final 23-man squad fast approaching, Fabio Capello faces tough decisions as he prepares to cull seven of the current party.

England are preparing for the tournament with friendlies against Mexico on May 24 at Wembley and Japan six days later in Austria.

Uncapped duo, Manchester City midfielder Adam Johnson and Tottenham defender Michael Dawson would certainly fit Capello’s key criteria of being fit and in-form however their lack of international experience could count against them.

Dawson’s team-mate, Tom Huddlestone is another inexperienced member of the group although in his favour could be the injury concerns surrounding Gareth Barry.

Huddlestone could prove to be the beneficiary should Barry fail to convince Capello of his fitness, leaving the Tottenham man to potentially fill the vital defensive midfield role.

Certainties to make the squad are the trio of goalkeepers although it still isn’t clear which man will emerge as number one this summer.

Portsmouth’s David James appears to be the front-runner however West Ham man Robert Green has been a recent incumbent and Manchester City’s Joe Hart has enjoyed a tremendous season on-loan at Birmingham City although this tournament could have come too early for him to be considered for a place in the starting line-up.

In defence, England look likely to have their traditional centre-back pairing of Chelsea’s John Terry and Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand available. Ashley Cole and Liverpool’s Glen Johnson are the preferred selections at full-back.

Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher has been called out of international retirement with the view of playing as an auxiliary full-back should team-mate Johnson get injured. Everton’s Leighton Baines is providing cover at left-back should Ashley Cole suffer injury or be suspended.

This leaves question marks over West Ham’s Matthew Upson, Michael Dawson, Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock and potentially even Ledley King.

Capello certainly has plenty of options in midfield. Those who could be classed as certainties to travel to South Africa are Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Gareth Barry could join that list if he manages to perform well against Mexico.

Otherwise, the World Cup status of Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, Manchester United’s Michael Carrick, Tom Huddlestone, Chelsea’s Joe Cole, West Ham’s Scott Parker and Manchester City’s Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips could be under threat.

Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon and Aston Villa’s James Milner, a player who can play across the midfield, look to be safe bets.

In the striking department, Wayne Rooney, top scorer for England in qualifying with nine goals and the player of his generation, will be the first name on the team-sheet.

Capello is known to favour a foil for Rooney which has meant Aston Villa’s Emile Heskey has retained his position in the squad although this could soon change unless he can put in some convincing displays in the upcoming matches.

Instead, Tottenham’s Peter Crouch could take his place and his colleague, Jermain Defoe will be hopeful of a place on the plane despite a run of poor form and recent comments from his manager, Harry Redknapp.

“I wanted more from him than what he was giving me. His form’s not been so good lately” Redknapp said, following Defoe’s disappointing form in the second-half of the season where he only scored three goals in his last thirteen games for Spurs.

Sunderland’s Darren Bent hit 25 goals this season however he would appear to be the wild-card choice owing to a lack of international experience and could be the one to make way.

Bent has the backing of Black Cats manager Steve Bruce though and if Capello is to remain true to his word of not abiding by favourites and instead choosing players performing well, he’d be hard pressed to ignore the case that Bent and Bruce make.

“What Darren has done for Sunderland this season is nothing short of fantastic – you can’t argue with a return of 25 goals. He has all the attributes needed to make a big impact on the international stage. Darren’s finishing ability is exceptional, and that’s a key asset when you are playing on a big stage like the World Cup” Bruce told Daily Mail reporters.

‘EASY’ GROUP SHOULD PROVE NO PROBLEM FOR ENGLAND

There will be no room for complacency as England prepare for the group stage. They’ll be eager to avoid a repeat of the shock 1-0 defeat to the USA in 1950 against an athletic American side brimming with pace.

Likewise, any kind of negative result or performance against unfancied Algeria and Slovenia sides will likely attract the scorn of the fervent English press.

England’s only fixture against Slovenia came in a 2-1 friendly victory last September. Questions were asked about the defence that day, especially of Glen Johnson who was relieved of possession in the build-up to Slovenia’s consolation goal.

Serbia or old enemy Germany could meet England in the second-round.  Thoughts of a long, hot summer of football will have to be cast aside for the time being though as England sweat on the fitness of various players following another gruelling season.

The nation will be praying Wayne Rooney remains fit and doesn’t suffer any hot-tempered fits of anger, such as the one that saw him dismissed in the quarter-final against Portugal in 2006.

England expects and fans will be hoping this is the year when international football’s greatest trophy will come home. Under the guidance of Capello, there is a determination and focus that was missing in recent tournaments.

Talk of unfinished training pitches, playing at altitude and injuries will have to be put to one side if England are to let nothing get in their way of glory and overcome the major tournament paralysis that has affected them for too long.

USA HOPING SOCCER WILL COME OF AGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

When the USA hosted World Cup ’94, one of the key conditions was the demand for the United States Soccer Federation to found a professional league.

Since the advent of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996, the country’s football team has developed into an emerging power, blessed not only with the traditional athleticism garnered by the college system but also a skilful set of players too.

The sport may still lag behind American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey however it’s obvious that the appetite for soccer, at grassroots level and professionally is strong.

With an estimated 18 million Americans playing ‘soccer’, the game crosses ethnic boundaries and looks likely to grow further.

RECENT FORM A WORRY ALTHOUGH QUALIFICATION LITTLE PROBLEM FOR THE USA

The USA truly announced themselves on the world stage when they reached the Confederations Cup final in 2009. At half-time they led the mighty Brazil 2-0 only to fade and eventually go on to lose the game.

Following their first ever FIFA men’s tournament final and subsequent defeat, the U.S went onto lose the 2009 Gold Cup Final, having been thrashed 5-0 by arch-rivals Mexico.

Recent results for manager Bob Bradley’s team have also been less than impressive. Three defeats in a row to Slovakia, Denmark and Honduras attracted criticism of the team although in their defence, some of the losses came without some of their key players such as Fulham’s Clint Dempsey and LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan.

The task of qualifying for the World Cup saw the USA negotiate a few bumps along the way however emerging from the CONCACAF section was never seriously in doubt and they topped their qualifying group.

Indeed, they began their campaign with a record win as they demolished Barbados and ran out 8-0 winners.

Other highlights included a 2-0 home win over Mexico and a 3-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, where former on-loan Hull City striker, Jozy Altidore became the youngest U.S player to score a hat-trick.

AMERICAN EXPORTS THRIVING ABROAD

Altidore may have endured a difficult spell at relegated Hull however he’ll no doubt bounce back and begin to thrive like many other American exports.

Midfielder Clint Dempsey and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard are the stand-out names featured in the U.S squad and Landon Donovan himself enjoyed a fine loan spell on the blue half of Merseyside with Howard.

Defender Carlos Bocanegra is another name familiar to Fulham fans having made over one hundred appearances, spanning four years, for the Cottagers.

AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu probably plays for the most prestigious club amongst his international team-mates however he is struggling to be fit having not played since October.

Elsewhere in Britain, Rangers midfield duo DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu are two lithe figures capable of penetrating opposition defences.

It is up front though where the U.S. might fall short and struggle to score goals. Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching has scored eleven goals in forty-four appearances for his country, albeit against lesser opposition.

Continuing the Fulham connection, striker Eddie Johnson was loaned to Greek side Aris Thessaloniki for the remainder of the past season and as with Ching, the pressure will be on him to produce at the top level.

Johnson currently has a hamstring injury, sustained in an end of season Greek play-off game and team physios have announced his condition will be monitored ‘day to day’.

USA HOPING TO UPSET ENGLAND AND PROGRESS TO THE LATTER STAGES OF THE COMPETITION

The stand-out fixture from Group C is without question the clash between USA and England. Not only for the ‘friendly’ rivalry that exists since the 1950 match-up but also because they will both be fighting for top spot in the group, this game carries significance for both sets of players and fans alike.

England certainly won’t take the challenge from the Americans lightly and a strong and able U.S midfield can easily match the work-rate of their counterparts. With players as quick as DaMarcus Beasley and as skilful as Landon Donovan, England’s full-backs will have to mix offence with defence in equal measure.

Algeria and Slovenia are largely unknown quantities however it is the Slovenes who may prove to be the challenger for the runners-up spot in the group.

Immediately following the draw, manager Bradley was keen to stress that the U.S will be taking the other two sides in the group seriously.

“We know that Algeria and Slovenia are very good teams and we have respect for what they accomplished. We’ll do our preparation and prepare our team. It’s a four year period of growing, and we’ve played very tough teams along the way” he said.

There will no doubt be a charged atmosphere against Algeria however should the U.S find their shooting boots; they should prove too great a challenge for the Desert Foxes.

The U.S team are currently at a training camp in Princeton however they’ll face the Czech Republic on May 25 and Turkey in Philadelphia on May 29 before they play their first group game against England on June 12 in Rustenburg.

ALGERIA BACK AT THE WORLD CUP FOLLOWING A 24-YEAR ABSENCE

Algeria will make their first World Cup appearance since 1986 having never been past the first round.

The aftermath of a protracted civil war, terrorism and high unemployment has stifled the nation however they’ll be looking for some cheer in South Africa this summer.

Indeed, the country has become besotted with its national team and there is a jubilant atmosphere heading into the Finals as school exams are especially moved forward. The team’s preparations were even moved to the Swiss Alps to ensure they remain focused away from the intense attention lavished on them by fans and journalists.

Feverish supporters did manage to find a way in to the camp, having clashed with police outside amid demands for autographs with the team.

Manager Rabah Saadane, also at the helm back in 1986, described the immense pride in the team in their country as they prepare for the World Cup.

This feeling gripping the country could produce some over-reaching performances if it proves to be as significant as some believe.

“Being at the World Cup is viewed as a symbol of Algeria’s return to the international stage,” said Nasser Djabi, a sociology professor at Algiers University. “It’s a form of national revival, especially for the youth who don’t believe in much.”

DRAMATIC QUALIFCATION AND SEMI-FINALS OF THE AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS

Algeria’s qualification to the World Cup was secured in the most dramatic fashion. Having lost their final group game against Egypt 2-0, the two nations were level on all the relevant measures of performance.

This led to a one-off game held on neutral ground in Sudan after violence erupted in the defeat in Cairo. An emotional tie ended 1-0 to Algeria with Bochum defender Anthar Yahia grabbing the decisive goal.

Algeria followed up qualification to the World Cup with a strong Africa Cup of Nations campaign, beating the Ivory Coast and being narrowly defeated in the semi-finals by bitter rivals Egypt.

UNKNOWN QUANTITY TO TEST THE WORLD

If asked to name members of the Algerian squad off the top of your head you might be hard pressed to reach a number on one hand however upon closer examination, there is quality that runs throughout the team.

Portsmouth’s Nadir Belhadj and Hasan Yebda alongside Rangers defender Majid Bougherra are some of the household names who could announce themselves on the world stage.

Bougherra played on the bullish national mood by arguing that his side will confound critics this summer.

“It has been said that we can’t qualify from a group including England and USA, but I am sure we will advance to the knockout stage. Algeria have true warriors and we want to write a new history for our country and fans” he roared.

Other players to watch out for include Lazio midfielder Mourad Meghni and Wolfsburg’s Karim Ziani who has an eye for goal.

Algeria will play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 28 May before meeting the UAE in Germany on 4 June in their final warm-up game.

TINY SLOVENIA BEAT RUSSIA TO QUALIFY

Slovenia finished runners-up in their qualifying group, finishing two points behind Slovakia. They then went onto defeat a much-fancied Russian team on away goals following a 2-2 aggregate score line.

Nacional midfielder Nejc Pecnik grabbed the vital away goal in Russia and a strike from Bochum striker Zlatko Dedic in the return leg finished the job.

With a population of only two million, this will be their second World Cup following qualification back in 2002 where they were eliminated in the first round.

Finishing above the Czech Republic and Poland was no mean feat, having defeated table-toppers Slovakia twice too.

SLOVENES WILL LOOK TO THEIR BIG GUNS TO SHINE WHILST STICKING WITH TEAM ETHIC

A consistent selection strategy, orchestrated by manager Matjez Kek has been key to Slovenia’s success. Granted, their pool of talent is much smaller than the larger nations however tinkering hasn’t been something looked into to achieve success.

If the team are to cause an upset at this year’s World Cup, they’ll need to rely on their solid team spirit as well as their big names to perform well.

Recently released midfielder Robert Koren was an influential part of West Bromwich Albion’s set-up until falling out with manager Roberto Di Matteo earlier in the year and the World Cup will be the perfect opportunity for the Slovenia captain to display his talents and find a new club.

Cologne striker Millvoje Novakovic grabbed five goals in qualifying and his presence will be vital alongside Zlatko Dedic.

Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic is a big presence in the team and there was a surprise inclusion for Inter Milan’s 19 year-old midfielder Rene Krhin, dubbed the ‘new Frank Lampard.’

Manager Matjin Kez is looking forward to the tournament and is happy with the preparations so far.

“I’m particularly happy about the last report from South Africa where the training headquarters of the Slovenian team, including an excellent pitch, are already waiting,” he said in a statement.

Slovenia, the smallest nation participating, will brace themselves for World Cup action with a game against fellow qualifiers New Zealand on June 4.

ENGLAND AND U.S TO FIGHT FOR TOP SPOTS BUT CAN OTHERS SPOIL THE PARTY?

Certainly on paper, it’s hard to look past England and the U.S to qualify for the latter stages however Slovenia and Algeria are more than capable of ripping up the script.

The day after England and the U.S meet, Algeria and Slovenia will take part in their own battle royale. If England can beat the Americans, one of those two sides have a real chance to put the pressure on the U.S by claiming all three points.

Slovenia probably won’t want to go into their final group game needing to take something from their match with England. The U.S face Algeria last knowing that this game will probably prove decisive. If Algeria still have a chance of qualifying themselves, it could be an even more tense and fiery affair.

By William Geldart

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