Capello happy with World Cup draw

(GSM) – England coach Fabio Capello is pleased with his side’s draw for the group stage of the 2010 World Cup finals but is not expecting any easy matches.

The United States, Algeria and Slovenia are England’s opponents in Group C. England are ninth in Fifa’s world rankings, with the United States ranked 14th, Algeria 28th and Slovenia 33rd.

Capello told: “It’s not so bad. We’ve played the US and Slovenia at home and played well and won. But when we have to play here in June it will be different. Algeria beat Egypt and they have a really good team now. Every opponent will be strong.”

Capello’s side begin their campaign in South Africa against the US in Rustenburg on 12 June, then play Algeria in Cape Town on 18 June and Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on 23 June.

They have never met Algeria before but have played the US and Slovenia in friendlies during Capello’s two-year reign as national boss, beating the US 2-0 in May 2008 and overcoming Slovenia 2-1 in September of this year.

England hope to set up a friendly against Egypt, who lost out to rivals Algeria in a play-off to reach the World Cup, on 3 March 2010.

“I think it’s a nice choice to know the style of these North African players,” said Capello.

The venue of England’s first group game is 1500m above sea level, and close to their planned World Cup base at the Bafokeng Sports Campus but, for their next two games, Capello’s men will have to travel further afield.They must make the 861-mile (1,385 km) trip to Cape Town for the game against Algeria six days after their opening fixture and face another 687-mile (1,105 km) journey to Port Elizabeth to face Slovenia.

Capello said: “It’s good we don’t have to move from the place we will be staying at for our first game. But the US are a good team, they always play very well in the World Cup.”

“Then we play our last two group games at sea level – which will be different. It will be more humid and windy, but we still have to win and have to go forward. You have to respect all the teams,” he added.

He continued: “I remember our game against Slovenia very well because in the second half we suffered because Slovenia are a team with really good organisation and their style is to play with a lot of passes. Technically they are very good.”