World Cup Preview - Group C

England

Coach: Fabio Capello

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Ledley King (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (LIverpool), 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)
Strikers: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

On their day there aren't many better teams, yet when England fail, they do so in some style.

After recent quarter final failures under Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve Mclarens England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, which meant he was relieved of his duties and Fabio Capello was appointed.

Capello's England struggled in their first qualifying game, away to Andorra, until the Italian brought Joe Cole on as a sub at half time, within 10 minutes Cole had scored twice to give England the three points and leave the English public relieved.  After that result the Three Lions never looked back and qualified with consumate ease, collecting 27 points out of a possible 30. Only a loss away in the Ukraine, when they went down to 10 men, and qualification was already guaranteed blotted the copybook.

England qualified with a goal difference of +27, with Wayne Rooney the top scorer in the European qualifiers.  They dismantled a highly-rated Croatia both away from home (4-1) and at Wembley (5-1) and with that sort of form you would expect them to do well.

However this year, England have not looked as impressive. Capello still appears undecided as to who his first choice between the sticks is, and it is reflected in the fact the England have failed to keep a clean sheet in 8 of their last 9 games.

England should still have enough about them to win the group, but as long as they qualify, and Gareth Barry returns for the latter stages they will be happy.

Key Man

Aaron Lennon - The likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard are all obvious picks, but for me Lennon is a key man as to how England perform. After impressing as a substitue in Germany 4 years ago Lennon found himself in the international wilderness, and when Walcott scored the hat-trick away to Croatia, Lennon seemed well down the pecking order.

But the Spurs wide-man has worked hard at his game, especially his final ball, and fought back to claim the Number 7 borth his own. Lennon was scintillating last season, and his performance at Wembley against the croatians showed how vital he is for England. If he can perform at a similar standard, then England could go far.



U.S.A

Coach: Bob Bradley


Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Pachuca)

Strikers: Jozy Altidore (Hull), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca)


The US team's player bonus scheme for the tournament is the largest for any nation in World Cup history, potentially worth $20.6m, or $895,000 per man for winning, and despite their rapid improvement over the last decade or so, I can't imagine they will be receiving the money.

The Americans topped their qualification group winning 6 out of 10 of their games, finishing a point ahead of Mexico, and should have enough about them to qualify from the group.

Only 4 players out of the 23 are still plying their trade in MLS, one of which is Landon Donovan who dipped his toe into Premier League waters last season with an impressive loan spell at Everton, and no doubt if he continues to impress several other European teams will be after him this summer.

The United States come in to the tournament struggling for form, having won only 2 of their 5 friendlies this year, losing to Honduras, Holland and the Czech Republic.

Key Man

Clint Dempsey - A very technically gifted player, Dempsey will be looking to get one over the country where he plays his league football.

Demspey's international record isn't as impressive as someone of his obvious talents should be, but his experience of Fulhams superb Europa Cup run should lead him in good stead in the tournament.






Algeria 

Coach: Rabah Saadane

Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Faouzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif), M'bohi Rais Ouheb (Slavia Sofia, Bulgaria)

Defenders: Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio), Rafik Halliche (Nacional Madeira), Anther Yahia (Bochum), Habib Belaid (Boulogne-sur-Mer), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce)
Midfielders: Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Adlene Guedioura (Charleroi), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg), Karim Matmour (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Strikers: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Rafik Saifi (Istres)

After watching Algeria's first game in the African Cup of Nations, I was expecting them to be the whipping boys of the group, but to their credit, they turned their performances round and managed to reach the final, where they were battered by Egypt, and since that they have once again looked poor,especially in their 3-0 defeat to the Irish last week.

A poor defence, and lack of goals make up the Algerian team. They have only scored 4 goals in their 8 games this year, and have conceded 16.

I expect their stay in South Africa to be a very short one.

Key Man -


Antar Yahia - Algeria's qualifying hero. Yahia scored the goal which meant Algeria qualified for their first World Cup since 1986, at the expense of bitter rivals Egypt, and in 2009 was named Arab player of the year.

Slovenia 

Coach: Matjaz Kek

Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam)


Defenders: Miso Brecko (FC Cologne), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Matej Mavric-Rozic (Koblenz), Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Marko Suler (Ghent), Suad Filekovic (NK Maribor), Elvedin Dzinic (NK Maribor)

Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Robert Koren (Unattached), Valter Birsa (AJ Auxerre), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan)


Strikers: Milivoje Novakovic (FC Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (VfL Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Ghent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional Funchal), Tim Matavz (Groningen)

A suprise victory of Russia saw the Slovenians qualify for South Africa. Currently ranked 25th in the world, Slovenia boast a very tight defence, as shown by the fact they only conceded 4 goals in their ten qualifiers, only one goal was conceded at home.

England and the USA should be wary of Slovenia's reputation as giant-killers, and no doubt the Slovenians will be looking to add some more famous scalps to their collection when the action starts next week.

Key Man

Milivoje Novakovič - The tall striker has scored 14 in his 37 caps for his country, and averages a goal in just over every other game for Cologne (51 in 108).











Prediction

1. England
2. U.S.A
3. Slovenia
4. Algeria