USA IN THE WORLD CUP TODAY

Saturday, June 12, 2010 (All times Eastern)
England (0-0-0) vs. USA (0-0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Rustenburg, South Africa (Sports Network) - The United States squares off against England to kick off Group C play for both teams on Saturday in one of the most anticipated World Cup games leading up to the 2010 tournament.

The last time the two countries met in World Cup play the U.S. shocked the soccer world and upset the English, 1-0. Unfortunately for the Americans, that game was 60 years ago.

"I think you have to know your history, but one doesn't really have to do with the other," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said of the upcoming game. "If we win, I'm sure there will be a parallel. It's a special time for us and I think probably for the first time we are able to look back at our soccer history and say that was an important time and we can do that again. We don't often have that."

Unlike that game over half a century ago, the American team won't sneak up on England. There are a number of U.S. players playing in the English Premier League, and if the USA's 2-0 win over European champions Spain in last summer's Confederations Cup didn't serve as notice, nothing will.

England, which hasn't won a World Cup since 1966, will count on Manchester United superstar Wayne Rooney to pace the offense. The forward scored 26 goals for United this past season.

The U.S. needs all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy to be at his best to succeed on Saturday.

The key to the opening match, however, may be how both defenses find their form. Both clubs are trying to sort through injury concerns to solidify their back lines.

England will be without central defender Rio Ferdinand for the tournament after he injured his knee in practice last week. Ferdinand will probably be replaced in the center by Ledley King, who must find instant chemistry with John Terry.

For the U.S., center back Oguchi Onyewu hasn't played a full 90 minutes in over eight months. Will U.S. coach Bob Bradley trust the big man in the middle alongside Jay DeMerit, or will Clarence Goodson get the nod? Bradley also has the option of moving team captain Carlos Bocanegra from left back to the middle.

The U.S. and England are the odds on favorites to advance from Group C, with the victor on Saturday getting an early leg up.

lets go usa

Soccer..Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring

Why in soccer they have such a big goal and they can't score many points and in basketball they have such a small goal and they score lots of points.