US defender Jonathan Spector has emphasised the importance of not focusing too much on England or Wayne Rooney ahead of their World Cup Group C opener in Rustenburg.
Spector, who has spent nearly eight years in England, knows first-hand about the problems England can cause. The US defender also knows directly of Rooney's talent, as the 24-year-old shared an Old Trafford dressing room with the England star when they were teenagers and they have faced on opposing sides many times since.
Despite this, Spector knows the importance of not getting fixated on the opposition, and that includes Rooney.
“He’s certainly a very talented player, we all know that.
"But he’s not the only player on England that has ability; they’re a good side. We haven’t really gone over tactically how we’re going to approach the game, but I think it’s important not just to focus on them, we need to be concerned with ourselves.
"There are certainly two teams in this game, and we need to worry about what we’re going to do and how we’re going to approach the game. It’s not just about what they have and what we need to do to stop them.”
The US have had a mixed build-up to their game with England. A 4-2 loss to the Czech Republic was followed by a 2-1 win against Turkey. They now play in a friendly against Australia on June 5 before facing England on June 12.
It will be only the second time the US have faced England in a competitive match - the first coming in 1950 when England were handed a shock 1-0 defeat by the US. Spector hopes the current US side can emulate that result.
"It was well before our time but there’s a pretty well-known movie that came out in the US about it. I personally saw it and I think a lot of the other guys have as well.
"Obviously it’s a proud moment for the US and it’s something we’d like to repeat. But it was a long time ago, and there are different players on each team now.”
4 Haziran 2010 Cuma
ENGLAND
FRANCE 1998:
Another World Cup, another penalty shoot-out elimination, but this time against Argentina in the second round.
A 2-1 defeat against Romania in Toulouse ensured a second-placed group finish for Glenn Hoddle's team and a meeting with the Argentine's in St Etienne.
Michael Owen's wonder goal and David Beckham's dismissal for kicking out at Diego Simeone are enduring images, but shoot-out misses by Paul Ince and David Batty prompted England's exit.
JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA 2002:
England avenged their 1986 and 1998 defeats against Argentina when David Beckham's penalty sealed a 1-0 group victory in Sapporo.
Despite group draws against Sweden and Nigeria, England progressed to the second round where Sven-Goran Eriksson's team completed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Denmark.
Yet again, the Brazilians stood between England and World Cup glory and despite Michael Owen's opening goal, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho - courtesy of David Seaman's inability to save his long-range free-kick - progressed to the semi-finals.
GERMANY 2006:
England's so-called 'golden generation' flew to Germany telling the world that they were ready to win the World Cup, but Sven-Goran Eriksson's team under-performed before a quarter-final defeat - on penalties again - at the hands of Portugal.
With Wayne Rooney's metatarsal injury hovering over Eriksson, England reached the second round following victories against Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago and a draw against Sweden which was marred by a serious knee injury suffered by Michael Owen.
David Beckham's free-kick saw off Ecuador in round two, but Rooney's red card in the 0-0 quarter-final draw against Portugal preceded a 3-1 shoot-out defeat.
Another World Cup, another penalty shoot-out elimination, but this time against Argentina in the second round.
A 2-1 defeat against Romania in Toulouse ensured a second-placed group finish for Glenn Hoddle's team and a meeting with the Argentine's in St Etienne.
Michael Owen's wonder goal and David Beckham's dismissal for kicking out at Diego Simeone are enduring images, but shoot-out misses by Paul Ince and David Batty prompted England's exit.
JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA 2002:
England avenged their 1986 and 1998 defeats against Argentina when David Beckham's penalty sealed a 1-0 group victory in Sapporo.
Despite group draws against Sweden and Nigeria, England progressed to the second round where Sven-Goran Eriksson's team completed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Denmark.
Yet again, the Brazilians stood between England and World Cup glory and despite Michael Owen's opening goal, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho - courtesy of David Seaman's inability to save his long-range free-kick - progressed to the semi-finals.
GERMANY 2006:
England's so-called 'golden generation' flew to Germany telling the world that they were ready to win the World Cup, but Sven-Goran Eriksson's team under-performed before a quarter-final defeat - on penalties again - at the hands of Portugal.
With Wayne Rooney's metatarsal injury hovering over Eriksson, England reached the second round following victories against Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago and a draw against Sweden which was marred by a serious knee injury suffered by Michael Owen.
David Beckham's free-kick saw off Ecuador in round two, but Rooney's red card in the 0-0 quarter-final draw against Portugal preceded a 3-1 shoot-out defeat.
NIGERIA
Nigeria's World Cup record: 1994 2nd rd, 1998 2nd rd, 2002 1st rd.
How Nigeria qualified for World Cup 2010: African Group B winners.
The Trainer: Shaibu Amodu (Nigerian, 51). Appointed: April 2008. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.
Amodu is in his fourth spell as manager of Nigeria, following previous stints in 1994-95, 1998-99 and 2001-2002.
The Country: The Super Eagles qualified in sensational fashion with a 3-2 win against Kenya in Nairobi. Nigeria needed victory to have any chance of denying Tunisia and they fought back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1, but conceded a 79th-minute equaliser, only for Obafemi Martins to seal an exciting win.
Afterwards Shaibu said: "This is a characteristic Nigerian side which you can never rule out when it is faced with adversity. It's unbelieavable."
The country’s football history has relates with Britain. Nigeria played their first unofficial match in October 1949, while still a British colony. The team played matches in England against different teams such as Dulwich Hamlet, Bishop Auckland and South Liverpool. Nigeria’s most important achievement was a gold medal in the 2nd All-Africa tournement, with 3rd place comes to end in 1976 and 1978's African Cup of Nations to follow.
Ampdu continues coming back to take charge but he has yet to coach at the World Cup finals. He has some well-known players in his charge comprising team leader Nwanko Kanu. Furthermore, Nigeria can boast Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, Bolton’s Danny Shittu, Everton’s Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Seyi Olofinjana of Hull. Fulham’s Dickson Etuhu, Charlton’s Sam Sodje and another Everton striker, Victor Anichebe, may also feature for the Super Eagles in South Africa.
How Nigeria qualified for World Cup 2010: African Group B winners.
The Trainer: Shaibu Amodu (Nigerian, 51). Appointed: April 2008. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.
Amodu is in his fourth spell as manager of Nigeria, following previous stints in 1994-95, 1998-99 and 2001-2002.
The Country: The Super Eagles qualified in sensational fashion with a 3-2 win against Kenya in Nairobi. Nigeria needed victory to have any chance of denying Tunisia and they fought back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1, but conceded a 79th-minute equaliser, only for Obafemi Martins to seal an exciting win.
Afterwards Shaibu said: "This is a characteristic Nigerian side which you can never rule out when it is faced with adversity. It's unbelieavable."
The country’s football history has relates with Britain. Nigeria played their first unofficial match in October 1949, while still a British colony. The team played matches in England against different teams such as Dulwich Hamlet, Bishop Auckland and South Liverpool. Nigeria’s most important achievement was a gold medal in the 2nd All-Africa tournement, with 3rd place comes to end in 1976 and 1978's African Cup of Nations to follow.
Ampdu continues coming back to take charge but he has yet to coach at the World Cup finals. He has some well-known players in his charge comprising team leader Nwanko Kanu. Furthermore, Nigeria can boast Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, Bolton’s Danny Shittu, Everton’s Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Seyi Olofinjana of Hull. Fulham’s Dickson Etuhu, Charlton’s Sam Sodje and another Everton striker, Victor Anichebe, may also feature for the Super Eagles in South Africa.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea World Cup record: 1954 1st rd, 1986 1st rd, 1990 1st rd, 1994 1st rd, 1998 1st rd, 2002 4th, 2006 1st rd.
How South Korea qualified for World Cup 2010: Asia Group 2 winners
The Coach: Huh Jung-Moo (South Korean, 54). Appointed: December 2007. WC experience: Player: 1986. Coach: None.
Huh has previously coached the Korea Republic national football team twice before.
The Country: Huh was re-appointed coach of the Korea Republic in December 2007, after the leading candidates, Wolves’ Mick McCarthy and former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier both rejected the job.
And he led the country to a seventh successive World Cup finals place thanks to a 2-0 victory over United Arab Emirates in Dubai. Park Chu-young and Ki Sung-yueng grabbed the goals as Huh’s outfit strolled to a place in South Africa.
He said: "I'm really happy that we made it. We are all satisfied with a performance that saw us ensure a place in South Africa. The players were excellent throughout the qualifiers, they did a great job."
Key to their success is captain Park Ji-Sung, the Manchester United midfielder. He is the only Korean player to win the Champions League and the first Asian to play in a final of the tournament.
Park came to prominence in the 2006 World Cup finals. He scored the equalising goal in the second Group G Match against eventual finalists France and was voted Man of the match. Between these two World Cup Finals, his shirt number shifted from 21 to 7, and he played in every match for South Korea.
And in October 2008 he captained South Korea for the first time in a friendly match against Uzbekistan. Korea went on to win 3-0. Since then he has been the captain for the remainder of the AFC qualification campaign for 2010 and was the top scorer of his team with five goals.
How South Korea qualified for World Cup 2010: Asia Group 2 winners
The Coach: Huh Jung-Moo (South Korean, 54). Appointed: December 2007. WC experience: Player: 1986. Coach: None.
Huh has previously coached the Korea Republic national football team twice before.
The Country: Huh was re-appointed coach of the Korea Republic in December 2007, after the leading candidates, Wolves’ Mick McCarthy and former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier both rejected the job.
And he led the country to a seventh successive World Cup finals place thanks to a 2-0 victory over United Arab Emirates in Dubai. Park Chu-young and Ki Sung-yueng grabbed the goals as Huh’s outfit strolled to a place in South Africa.
He said: "I'm really happy that we made it. We are all satisfied with a performance that saw us ensure a place in South Africa. The players were excellent throughout the qualifiers, they did a great job."
Key to their success is captain Park Ji-Sung, the Manchester United midfielder. He is the only Korean player to win the Champions League and the first Asian to play in a final of the tournament.
Park came to prominence in the 2006 World Cup finals. He scored the equalising goal in the second Group G Match against eventual finalists France and was voted Man of the match. Between these two World Cup Finals, his shirt number shifted from 21 to 7, and he played in every match for South Korea.
And in October 2008 he captained South Korea for the first time in a friendly match against Uzbekistan. Korea went on to win 3-0. Since then he has been the captain for the remainder of the AFC qualification campaign for 2010 and was the top scorer of his team with five goals.
SLOVENIA
Slovenia's World Cup record: 2002 1st rd.
How Slovenia qualified for World Cup 2010: European play-off winners.
The Coach: Matjaž Kek (Slovenian, 48). Appointed: January 2007. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.
Kek has worked his way up the Slovenian ladder, coaching the country’s Under-15 and Under-16 teams before progressing to the senior side.
The Country: The only surprise of the play-offs came in Slovenia with Kek admitting that his country had "realised a dream" by winning against Russia to a place at the World Cup finals after Milivoje Novakovic's five goals saved them second place in their group.
Zlatko Dedic scored the game's only goal to put Slovenia through on away goals at the expense of Guus Hiddink's side, who had two men sent off in a tragic and bad-tempered match. But Kek was without doubt that his side played better on the night and deserved to go through.
He said: "It was a historic match for us. I want to thank every one of my players. The whole country was behind us and we could feel their support. Our victory was deserved. It is a huge honour to be among the best teams in the world. Slovenia has realised a dream.”
A dream, indeed, when one thinks that they played their first match only in 1992 after the split of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991. Before that, Slovenian players played for the Yugoslavia national football team.
Slovenia were shock qualifiers for Euro 2000, when they won against Ukraine in a playoff. They turned some heads during the tournament, drawing with Yugoslavia and Norway, and only defeating to Spain 2–1. Slovenia achieved another major achievement two years later, qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, this time winning against Romania in a playoff.
They were not defeated a match in their complete qualifying matches with six wins and six draws. However, they did not do as good in the finals, as they went home without point. Despite defeating to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, they were the only team to win against Italy on their way to coming first with a shock 1–0 win on home turf.
How Slovenia qualified for World Cup 2010: European play-off winners.
The Coach: Matjaž Kek (Slovenian, 48). Appointed: January 2007. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.
Kek has worked his way up the Slovenian ladder, coaching the country’s Under-15 and Under-16 teams before progressing to the senior side.
The Country: The only surprise of the play-offs came in Slovenia with Kek admitting that his country had "realised a dream" by winning against Russia to a place at the World Cup finals after Milivoje Novakovic's five goals saved them second place in their group.
Zlatko Dedic scored the game's only goal to put Slovenia through on away goals at the expense of Guus Hiddink's side, who had two men sent off in a tragic and bad-tempered match. But Kek was without doubt that his side played better on the night and deserved to go through.
He said: "It was a historic match for us. I want to thank every one of my players. The whole country was behind us and we could feel their support. Our victory was deserved. It is a huge honour to be among the best teams in the world. Slovenia has realised a dream.”
A dream, indeed, when one thinks that they played their first match only in 1992 after the split of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991. Before that, Slovenian players played for the Yugoslavia national football team.
Slovenia were shock qualifiers for Euro 2000, when they won against Ukraine in a playoff. They turned some heads during the tournament, drawing with Yugoslavia and Norway, and only defeating to Spain 2–1. Slovenia achieved another major achievement two years later, qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, this time winning against Romania in a playoff.
They were not defeated a match in their complete qualifying matches with six wins and six draws. However, they did not do as good in the finals, as they went home without point. Despite defeating to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, they were the only team to win against Italy on their way to coming first with a shock 1–0 win on home turf.
NEW ZELAND
New Zealand's World Cup record: 1982 1st rd.
How New Zealand qualified for World Cup 2010: Oceania/Asia qualifier.
The Coach: Rickie Herbert (New Zealander, 48. Appointed: Feb 2005. WC experience: Player: 1982. Coach: None.
Herbert spent most of his playing career in New Zealand and Australia apart from a spell at Wolves, where he played under Tommy Docherty.
The Country: The All Whites used to battle with Australia for top honours in the Oceania Football Confederation. But with the Socceroos switching the Asia for World Cup qualification, the Kiwis faced less formidable opposition in an attempt to reach the finals for the first time since 1982.
Their white strip, by the way, was originally based on the colour of England's shirts and name is quite the opposite with the rugby union team, the All Blacks. New Zealand confirmed qualification with a 1-0 aggregate play-off victory over Bahrain, winning the second game in Wellington in front of a New Zealand record football crowd of 35,100 thanks to a header from Plymouth striker Rory Fallon.
But it also required a penalty save from goalkeeper Mark Paston, who denied Sayed Mohamed five minutes after the interval in the return leg, to confirm the Kiwi’s passage.
How New Zealand qualified for World Cup 2010: Oceania/Asia qualifier.
The Coach: Rickie Herbert (New Zealander, 48. Appointed: Feb 2005. WC experience: Player: 1982. Coach: None.
Herbert spent most of his playing career in New Zealand and Australia apart from a spell at Wolves, where he played under Tommy Docherty.
The Country: The All Whites used to battle with Australia for top honours in the Oceania Football Confederation. But with the Socceroos switching the Asia for World Cup qualification, the Kiwis faced less formidable opposition in an attempt to reach the finals for the first time since 1982.
Their white strip, by the way, was originally based on the colour of England's shirts and name is quite the opposite with the rugby union team, the All Blacks. New Zealand confirmed qualification with a 1-0 aggregate play-off victory over Bahrain, winning the second game in Wellington in front of a New Zealand record football crowd of 35,100 thanks to a header from Plymouth striker Rory Fallon.
But it also required a penalty save from goalkeeper Mark Paston, who denied Sayed Mohamed five minutes after the interval in the return leg, to confirm the Kiwi’s passage.
PARAGUAY
Paraguay's World Cup record: 1930 1st rd, 1950 1st rd, 1958 1st rd, 1986 2nd rd, 1998 2nd rd, 2002 2nd rd, 2006 1st rd.
How Paraguay qualified for World Cup 2010: South America group, 3rd.
The Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentine, 46). Appointed: Feb 2007. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.
A former Argentina international, Martino replaced the Uruguayan, Anibal Ruiz. His knowledge and success while coaching Paraguayan clubs made him the best man for the job.
The Country: Paraguay are no strangers to the World Cup, having featured in seven previous tournaments. They secured their place at a fourth-straight World Cup finals with two games to spare after a 1-0 win over Argentina. Nelson Valdez's goal earned his side victory over Diego Maradona's struggling outfit in the South American qualifying group.
Martino says: "In the national team, you work for two possibilities - you can work for having a job or for making history. I want to work for the second option."
Paraguay's current squad is undergoing a transition following the retirement of key players such as Carlos Gamarra, Francisco Arce, Celso Ayala, and goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert. Their under-19 side won the Milk Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2006, and players such as Nelson Haedo Valdez, Julio dos Santos, José Montiel and Oscar Cardozo are thought key to the re-building of the team.
Justo Villar, the Albirroja goalkeeper and captain: "It might look as though we sailed through the qualifying campaign, but nothing could be further from the truth. We led the standings for half the campaign, and then just when we were about to wrap things up, we had a shaky spell, which raised doubts among the fans. That's why we celebrated in style when we finally made it."
How Paraguay qualified for World Cup 2010: South America group, 3rd.
The Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentine, 46). Appointed: Feb 2007. WC experience: Player: None. Coach: None.
A former Argentina international, Martino replaced the Uruguayan, Anibal Ruiz. His knowledge and success while coaching Paraguayan clubs made him the best man for the job.
The Country: Paraguay are no strangers to the World Cup, having featured in seven previous tournaments. They secured their place at a fourth-straight World Cup finals with two games to spare after a 1-0 win over Argentina. Nelson Valdez's goal earned his side victory over Diego Maradona's struggling outfit in the South American qualifying group.
Martino says: "In the national team, you work for two possibilities - you can work for having a job or for making history. I want to work for the second option."
Paraguay's current squad is undergoing a transition following the retirement of key players such as Carlos Gamarra, Francisco Arce, Celso Ayala, and goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert. Their under-19 side won the Milk Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2006, and players such as Nelson Haedo Valdez, Julio dos Santos, José Montiel and Oscar Cardozo are thought key to the re-building of the team.
Justo Villar, the Albirroja goalkeeper and captain: "It might look as though we sailed through the qualifying campaign, but nothing could be further from the truth. We led the standings for half the campaign, and then just when we were about to wrap things up, we had a shaky spell, which raised doubts among the fans. That's why we celebrated in style when we finally made it."
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