Saturday 12th June
12:30 South Korea v Greece
15:00 Argentina v Nigeria
19:30 England v USA
12:30 South Korea v Greece
15:00 Argentina v Nigeria
19:30 England v USA
The U.S. opens against England in Rustenburg on June 12, the teams' first World Cup matchup since the Americans' 1-0 victory at the 1950 tournament in Brazil.
The United States then meets Slovenia at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on June 18 and completes the first round on June 23 against Algeria in Pretoria. The U.S. has never played either nation.
"American fans are thinking we should advance out of the group, and I like that. I like how they're thinking," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "We feel confident as well that this is a group we can get out of."
After advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002, the best U.S. finish since the initial World Cup in 1930, there were high expectation for the Americans at the 2006 tournament in Germany. But they were eliminated in the first round with losses to the Czech Republic and Ghana around a tie with Italy.
The U.S. famously upset England 1-0 in the first round of the 1950 tournament in Brazil, still considered by many the greatest American soccer victory. The June 12 game in Rustenburg features a matchup that could pit Los Angeles Galaxy teammates David Beckham and Landon Donovan on opposite teams.
While the English are ranked ninth in the world and have stars such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, whose club matches are televised throughout the world, Algeria (28th) and Slovenia (33rd) both needed to win playoffs to reach the tournament and are ranked well behind the U.S. (14th).
"It think it was a very fair group," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "It gives us an opportunity, you know, to play well and to advance."
• ESPN soccer analyst Tommy Smyth discusses the World Cup draw, throwing in his favorites to advance to the second round. Odds on the U.S. winning were lowered from 80-1 to 65-1 after the draw, with Spain remaining the favorite at 4-1 followed by five-time champion Brazil at 5-1 along with England.
If the Americans finish second in their group, they likely would play Germany in the second round. If they finish first, they probably would advance to a meeting with Serbia or Ghana.
"For the U.S. it looks to be a positive grouping," said Bruce Arena, who coached the Americans at the previous two World Cups. "But again, let's not count them through yet."
The U.S. has not done particularly well at soccer's showcase event. Since returning to the World Cup in 1990 following a 40-year absence, the Americans are 3-12-3 in the tournament, including 1-9-2 against European teams.
"I think it's one of the more well-balanced groups," England coach Fabio Capello said. "We're going to have to be careful. All the games are difficult and we may start with the toughest game, since the United States will have a lot more time to prepare for the World Cup."
All three games will be at venues where the U.S. played at this year's Confederations Cup, and all are at altitudes of 3,700 feet or higher. The Americans lost to Italy and Brazil in Pretoria, defeated Egypt in Rustenburg to advance to the semifinals, then took a two-goal halftime lead against Brazil in the final at Ellis Park before losing 3-2.
"This is the best draw we've ever had in any World Cup," said former U.S. forward Eric Wynalda, now an analyst for the Fox Soccer Channel. "No disrespect to England, but this is an ideal group for us."
Marcello Lippi -