By Jonathan Wilson, DPA,
Rustenburg, South Africa : After all the anticipation comes the real test, as England face the United States in their football World Cup opener in Rustenburg Saturday.
England were impressive in qualifying, scoring seven more goals than anybody else in the European section, but injuries to key players and indifferent showings in their warm-up friendlies have dampened expectations.
Their manager Fabio Capello, who remains the main source of faith for those England fans who still believe victory is possible, remains upbeat, despite losing his captain and centre-back Rio Ferdinand to a knee injury, and having to reshuffle his midfield as Gareth Barry recovers from an ankle problem.
“It’s been a really long period before the first game, but I think we’re fit now to play against the USA,” he said.
“I am really happy with the training we made here and, therefore, the situation of the players.
“I’m upset with Rio’s injury because any player dreams of playing in the World Cup, but this is the only problem that upsets me at the moment.
“In the last few games I was upset because I didn’t see the spirit on the pitch. But I understand why because the players saw on television that a lot of other players were being injured in friendly games.
“For this reason, I think they missed tackles and got the ball back slowly. But, in training here in our camp, I saw everything I wanted to see.
“We have improved from when we started in Austria and improved a lot here. I’m sure that, in the game we will play versus the USA, we will be in a perfect situation physically and psychologically.”
Ledley King looks likely to come in for Ferdinand, with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard paired in the middle of midfield.
After James Milner missed training Thursday with a high temperature, Joe Cole seems sure to start on the left.
AC Milan centre-back Oguchi Onyewu could return for USA after insisting he is fully recovered from a knee injury.
“I feel fine,” he said. “there have been no complications. I have not had any restrictions with training or game activities.”
Hull City striker Jozy Altidore should also be fit, although after their impressive display against Australia, Edson Buddle and Robbie Findley may be retained.
Midfielder Michael Bradley insists the experience of last year, when the US reached the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa, will be a benefit this time round.
“As a team, we have battle hardened ourselves in a way,” he said. “Now we step onto the field against big teams and there is a sense of we have been there before.
“We know what to expect. The quality will be even higher in a World Cup but we are ready for it.”
And there is always, of course, the precedent of 1950, when the US last faced England in a World Cup, and beat them 1-0.