World Cup 2010 Preview: England Vs. USA

England enter the World Cup 2010 as one of the hot favorites alongside Spain and Brazil, but are widely expected to disappoint their fans around the quarterfinals stage, as they always do. But a strict disciplinarian coach in the form of Fabio Capello would generally deter any sweeping bit of indiscipline as England take on USA in their first game of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Let's face it, on paper, as always, the England squad is a brilliant, star-studded one. They perhaps have the best central midfield pairing in the world with Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard and Chelsea start Frank Lampard. They also have supposedly the world's best and angriest striker Wayne Rooney. They also have perhaps the best left back in the world, Ashley Cole. Right back Glen Johnson too is decent and Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon on his day can scare the daylights out of you with his speed and dazzling dribbling skills.

But somewhere, somehow, the big stage proves elusive for these stars and this world tournament has often ended quite terribly since their run to the semifinal in 1990.

And when your opponents are the feisty and embattling USA, the task only gets tougher. Ranked 15th in the world, the United States boast a pretty good attacking line led by the iconic Landon Donovan and Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey. Both these players, along with goalkeepers Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann, and West Ham United defender Jonathan Spector have played in the Barclays Premier League, and their weaknesses have not gone unseen by these players. And with USA coach Bob Bradley firing spectacular lines about not being scared of England and wanting to beat England, they clearly seem not to be intimidated by the English squad one bit.

So will the better squad on paper do better than the underdogs?

My Prediction: England 3-2 USA

Stay tuned for more on the FIFA World Cup 2010. Right here!