By DPA,
Johannesburg : England’s 23-strong World Cup squad landed in South Africa Thursday morning, where their arrival nudged excitement levels higher eight days before kick-off.
Fabio Capello’s men, led by talismanic striker Wayne Rooney, landed at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport shortly after 8 a.m.
With all the teams’ airport arrivals off-bounds, fans will have to wait for their first public training session to see the players in action.
England, ranked eighth in the world by FIFA, are going to be based in the north-western city of Rustenburg, about 160 kilometres from Johannesburg.
Their World Cup campaign begins on June 12, when they play the United States in Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium. England’s group C also includes Algeria and Slovenia.
England have not won the World Cup since taking the trophy on home soil in 1966.
Manchester United star Rooney struggled through the end of the club season with an ankle injury and a groin issue but the 24-year-old has said his couple of weeks away from the pitch could benefit the team.