South Africa World Cup 2010 Group C: England

GROUP C

England USA Algeria Slovenia

* = Seeded Team
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]

*England

Road to South Africa

England were imperious throughout Group 6 qualifying, sweeping into their 13th finals on the back of eight straight victories including a memorable Theo Walcott-inspired 4-1 win in Zagreb over Croatia. The 5-1 thrashing of the same opponents at Wembley in September sealed England's place at the 2010 competition and established the Three Lions - again - as one of the pre-tournament favourites, although whether they have the strength in depth to disturb the likes of Spain and Brazil remains to be seen.

Fixtures

England Kit 1 Copyright © Soccerphile	England Kit 2 Copyright © Soccerphile

England v USA 12 June; Rustenburg
England v Algeria 18 June; Cape Town
England v Slovenia 23 June; Port Elizabeth

Analysis

There are plenty of reasons for England followers to look forward to South Africa with a degree of expectancy. Under Fabio Capello, the side appears bullish and confident, and seems to believe they belong among the best teams in the world.

England have a generation of players with significant international experience of playing together (Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole all have 70-plus caps not to mention David Beckham's 117) and, perhaps crucially, can expect a similar timeline and temperature in South Africa.

However, Capello does have his share of uncertainties too. The Italian maintains he knows his first choice goalkeeper, but that hasn't stopped him using David James, Ben Foster and Rob Green over the past 12 months with Birmingham's on-loan shot-stopper Joe Hart expected to also be handed an audition before Capello names his final 23.

Meanwhile, the central defensive partner for skipper John Terry is still very much up in the air with Ferdinand's ongoing back injury forcing him out of action since October. Matthew Upson has proved to be a capable deputy but behind the West Ham defender further uncertainty lingers.

Key player: Wayne Rooney

There's little doubt Wayne Rooney has the form, the opportunity and the motivation to grasp this year's showcase tournament. At club level in the Premier League, the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real means Rooney is more regularly playing in his favoured position and has already delivered 16 goals in all competitions this season. What's more, premature exits from his past two major international tournaments (a broken foot ended his Euro 2004 campaign after Rooney had scored four times in the group phase while his red card in the 0-0 quarter-final draw against Portugal preceded a 3-1 shoot-out defeat in 2006) should provide plenty of personal incentive. Still only 24, Rooney has already scored 25 goals in 57 international appearances, including nine goals in 2010 qualifying.

One to watch: James Milner

Battling with Aston Villa team-mates Ashley Young and Stuart Downing for one of the handful of undecided positions in Capello's 23-man squad, James Milner looks to have shored up a spot having proved his undoubted adaptability. Milner made his name as a striker but tends to play out wide or in central midfield for Villa, and has even been deployed at full-back for this national side.

Coach: Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello is an archetypical Italian in many respects. He's a renowned art collector and spends his evenings listening to classical music. But when it comes to his footballing principles, the 63-year-old tactician has resisted altering England's classic game plan of a high tempo, and has even kept faith with the bulk of the squad that disappointed under predecessor Steve McClaren. Instead, Capello, who is contracted until summer 2012, has insisted on greater ball retention and as a consequence of a fantastic qualifying campaign will enter his first World Cup as a player or a coach in positive spirits.

Record

1950, 1958 First round; 1982 1998 Second Round; 1954, 1962, 1970, 1986, 2002, 2006 Quarter Finals; 1990 Fourth place; 1966 Champions

FIFA Ranking

Predictions & Latest Odds

Will make it out of the group and on to the quarterfinals (again).
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

Finished first in European qualifying group 6.
World Cup Betting

Soccerphile says

A significant proportion of England's football-mad population believe England will win every World Cup they qualify for - and this year is no different despite the team's failure to even reach the Euro 2008 finals. Injuries will be key, but if Capello can regularly call on his true heavyweights a spot in the last four is certainly within reach.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)
Defenders: Jamie Carragher, (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).
Forwards: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

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