Preview: England vs. United States

June 9th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

england-usa

Join our liveblog for both England and USA fans

THE BIG PICTURE
From the second Group C was drawn, this was the game everyone wanted to talk about. Everyone in the USA and England anyway. It’s almost as if Algeria and Slovenia don’t exist. The focus on this game has a mixture of historical and political reasons, as well as some very specific football reasons. All of which we’ll discuss below. The objective preview goes that despite the recent injury to captain Rio Ferdinand, England is still expected to win this Group C opener, but USA could still progress with results against Algeria and Slovenia. However, the subjective preview goes that for historical, political and cultural reasons there’s a whole extra dimension to this game. England may be favourite, but the USA are not going to make it easy for them and will be treating this game like a derby.

WHAT’S AT STAKE
Group C:
groupc1
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this game means more to Americans. The history of the USA begins with a win over England. On the battlefield instead of the football field, but still. The two nations are on much friendlier terms nowadays, but the desire to overthrow the English is arguably still there in the American DNA. Football wise, one of the USA’s most storied wins came at the 1950 World Cup, where a hastily assembled team of supposed no-hopers shocked an England team that was supposed to be the best in the world by winning 1-0. Sixty years later the disparity in talent isn’t nearly as big. But that established old world (England) vs ambitious new world (USA) dynamic is still in effect, and a victory for the USA in this game arguably represents another step forward for US Soccer. Also at stake: steak.

Bet on England vs. USA

SQUADS

England: GK: James, Green, Hart; DF: Carragher, A. Cole, Dawson, Johnson, King, Terry, Upson, Warnock; MF: Barry, Carrick, J. Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Lennon, Milner, Wright-Phillips; FW: Crouch, Defoe, Heskey, Rooney; Coach: Fabio Capello

USA: GK: Guzan, Howard, Hahnemann; DF: Bocanegra, Bornstein, Cherundolo, DeMerit, Goodson, Onyewu, Spector; MF: Beasley, Bradley, Clark, Dempsey, Donovan, Edu, Feilhaber, Holden, Torres; FW: Altidore, Buddle, Findley, Gomez; Coach: Bob Bradley

KEY MATCHUPS
The USA’s most potent attacking player is probably Landon Donovan, who will likely start on the right wing. If he does, he’ll be up against England left back Ashley Cole, who likes to get forward a bit himself. However, Cole’s defensive skills are often underrated so the USA will arguably have more luck on the other flank where Clint Dempsey will likely be attacking the much less defensively sound Glen Johnson. Other matchups worth watching out for: Young and fast US striker Jozy Altidore vs not so young or so fast (but much more famous) England defender John Terry. Going the other way, Wayne Rooney is a class above America’s defence, though possible England targetmen Peter Crouch or Emile Heskey could find themselves on the losing end of a physical battle with big American defenders Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit.

OUR PREDICTION
This one’s close to my heart. I’m an England fan first, but have plenty of space in my heart for the US team. I want to say 1-1 draw, but the reality will be more like a narrow 2-1 England win after a hard fought game.

LIVEBLOG
Follow the match highlights as they happen on the England v. USA LiveBlog, starting just before the match. Come by and join the discussion throughout the match.

FAN RESOURCES

England
Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
England Jerseys | England World Cup Tickets

USA
Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
USA Jerseys | USA World Cup Tickets

Join our liveblog for both England and USA fans

WATCH THE MATCH
Match begins at 8pm local time (2pm EST) on ITV1 (UK) or ABC (US). Check our list of global World Cup broadcasters for other channels showing the tournament, or watch the match online.

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://inter.theoffside.com Johonna

ARGH. I am going to be at my Grandmother's 80th birthday during this game. I guess I will just have to follow along on good ol' phone as best I can. Thank goodness for the DVR.

And I say the US can pull a surprise win. Look how well they did against Brazil in the Confederation Cup. Besides, they have the element of surprise – England is sure to think they will be a push over.
adrom

who will play in the english midfield besides gerrard and lampard? will lennon get a chance?
WorldCupBlog

At this point, only Fabio knows for sure. I would imagine that most if not all of the midfielders will get some time, especially if England make a long run. Carrick may not, but again, we'll have to wait and see what Daddy Capello does.
http://japan.worldcupblog.org/ Aidan

It's built up as a big game in England too, but not really for any historical reasons – purely the fact that it's the opening match and against a decent opponent, probably the toughest opponent in the group.

I've not really seen much reporting here about any other significance for the game – so from that point of view I agree that it means a lot more to Americans. We just want the 3 points and to move on to the next.

That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was a 1-1 draw. It will certainly be a close contest and probably quite a good entertaining match.

Whatever happens I would think both teams stand a great chance of progressing to the second round.
Tbone04

It's not that bad. Just take Grandma to a sports bar for her Birthday. Pay some young stud to lick lime and salt of her chest while taking shots of Tequila. You just focus on the game
Tbone04

I don't think England has a chance against the USA, but I do think they will progress past the group in the #2 spot. England got their rears handed to them by Japan. Even though it's a friendly, it counts. The second team will most likely be playing for England because Rooney will be rejected for his temper (Zidane Jr.) and other's will foul. Can England's second team win the world cup? No.
http://inter.theoffside.com Johonna

so. incredibly. disturbing. Now how am I ever going to get that image out of my brain? YIKES!
brentonwalters

Hah! Either team COULD win, but really, do you even watch international football, or just the MLS? Man, I love US fans…
http://malawi.worldcupblog.org sscouser

I have said it before and I will say it again: The pressure is on England.

Even “The Gaffer” agrees:

For England, all of the pressure is on them. The team is expected to win and win convincingly. I find it patronizing that a lot of the English pundits and celebrities (such as Terry Venables and Noel Gallagher, just to name two of many) warn that the United States should not be underestimated. But, at the same time, they slap U.S. soccer in the face by saying how fit the team is. That’s like saying Gallagher has a good voice but can’t sing. Many of the British talking heads only praise the American players on their fitness rather than their skill. Yes, on paper, England is a more experienced team but that’s not to say that the Americans are not talented. They most definitely are.

The other thing about the United States men’s national team is that they have a greater self belief. England often bottle under the pressure and have difficulty composing themselves when it matters most. For the United States, they usually do the opposite. The games they shouldn’t win, they play incredibly. And the games that they should win handsomely, they crumble. They truly are a Jekyll and Hyde side. But when they go in as underdogs, as they will do against England, the team will bond and play their hearts out for their country knowing a win will take them to the promised land.

England, on the other hand, feel they’re in an easy group. Many of them won’t admit it publicly, but the pundits are already thinking about the second round and a potential match-up against Germany. The U.S., I believe, are more focused on the game against England because everyone knows how important it is for the country. An England win against the United States will be a blip on the radar in terms of news headlines. But a U.S. victory against England will be front-page news on every major newspaper around the world on Sunday, June 13.
Bense235

I believe the U.S. can score the 0:1 and hold England to a 1:1 later on. No matter what, England will be strong, but all of the pressure might be a little too much to handle. We might see the first red card of the tournament. Rooney stomping Dempseys nutsack or so.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/ZY3I2OLSAETAKJ23UZBR2ZFDLU Eroy

all angles, all facts, all probabilities…eng 3-0..theyre just too good.
vuthakeang

I think England win USA. England 3:1 USA
http://al-terity.blogspot.com/ Alterity

0-0. Anticlimax. :(
http://twitter.com/volumeind wadju suite

Yeah, Yeah… And now the BP thing is being tied to this story. Seriously. This is the best blog out there. I'd rather get my intel from this site than the news! Go USA! Show your colors and make some noise. We're all going to hold our iPhones high with the flag on display and some noise to get in England's face! Join us with the All World Noise app!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=146501458 Joel Michael Neihardt

Everyone's got a huge buzz off of Buddle, but really his goals against a fairly weak Australia side were simple finishes that if he would have missed would have been considered atrocious. I say start Dempsey up top with Altidore (who hopefully doesn't get lazy in the WORLD CUP of all places) and start Holden on the other wing. The kid has so much energy and pace he can play more defense, and he's not afraid to dribble a little bit with it on the wing which creates space. And get Torres in there! Maybe start Clark, and def. Bradley, but Torres and Fielhaber both offer some creativity, one which a stale defensive-minded midfield could use, and Torres has been playin good D too. And Spector needs to start too. Confederations Cup ring a bell? He delivered great crosses the whole tournament, and if Cherundolo is in form then bench Bocanegra. Just cuz he's a captain and face doesn't mean you keep playing him if he's out of form or fitness!
J09

Everyone's got a huge buzz off of Buddle, but really his goals against a fairly weak Australia side were simple finishes that if he would have missed would have been considered atrocious. I say start Dempsey up top with Altidore (who hopefully doesn't get lazy in the WORLD CUP of all places) and start Holden on the other wing. The kid has so much energy and pace he can play more defense, and he's not afraid to dribble a little bit with it on the wing which creates space. And get Torres in there! Maybe start Clark, and def. Bradley, but Torres and Fielhaber both offer some creativity, one which a stale defensive-minded midfield could use, and Torres has been playin good D too. And Spector needs to start too. Confederations Cup ring a bell? He delivered great crosses the whole tournament, and if Cherundolo is in form then bench Bocanegra. Just cuz he's a captain and face doesn't mean you keep playing him if he's out of form or fitness!
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/OH5GBUFPOGHYOPC4KZ6IJ4DTJQ Dice

Just from results and the quality of the players up and down the respective line ups, its clear that England should be favored. By how much? Not as much consensus would lead you to believe. Of decisive matches, I think England wins 3 to the US's 2, but with a draw being the most likely result. Honestly, I think both teams would be perfectly content with a draw and focus on beating the teams they should beat, Algeria and Slovenia (who after ousting Egypt and Russia, shouldn't be push overs either)
http://www.facebook.com/jacob.kwon1 Jacob Kwon

WAKE UP CALL USA!
ESPN stated USA vs ENGLAND is the “MOST ANTICIPATED GAME…”
…A.R.E….YOU…SERIOUS….
1…Um….It is NOT the MOST ANTICIPATED GAME
2…USA…You stand NO chance…
2…Um….Yeah…It is NOT the MOST ANTICPATED GAME…like…really…Maybe the LEAST ANTICPATED GAME…

LOSE YOUR EGO USA…SERIOUSLY…THE WORLD REVOLVED AROUND…NO NOT YOU…STOP CRYING

LOL
ednold

The US is a good back line away from really challenging for the cup. We could get lucky and win it but it's more likely our awful defense will give up 3 or 4 goals. As far as I'm concerned though there's no loser in this game. The EPL is the best in the world and if the US can't win it I hope Lampard and company can stick a sock in those damned Spaniards and Italians.
cgbeho

South Africa is a magnificent place to hold this world cup tournament as a spectacular landmark history the first time in Africa and iam proud of that.I come from Ghana and the English colonised us to institute the policy of democracy which is now showing green shoots in Africa.My heart goes out for England for a victory with a prediction 3-0 in favour of England.I wish you all this great moments and enjoy yourselves.
Jo R

Dissapointing result!!! ;-/