England in World Cup comfort zone

They will not admit it publicly, but England will regard a group containing the United States, Algeria and Slovenia as just about as easy as they could have hoped for from the World Cup draw.

The United States won the only previous World Cup meeting between the two countries and their 1-0 win in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 1950 still ranks as one of the greatest shocks in the history of the tournament.

But that remains the only time England have lost to their transatlantic allies and, despite the United States beating Spain on their way to the Confederations Cup final last year, it would be regarded as another upset if Bill Bradley’s side were to take three points from the group opener in Rustenburg on June 12.

England have recent experience of playing both the United States — who were comfortably outclassed in a 2-0 friendly defeat at Wembley in May 2008 — and Slovenia, who created more problems in a 2-1 defeat at the same venue in September.

Algeria represent more of an unknown quantity with Fabio Capello admitting at the draw that he knew virtually nothing about a side that clinched their place in South Africa via an explosive play-off against Egypt, whom England are planning to play in March as part of their World Cup build-up.

Under Capello, England have regained the confidence that was drained from the squad as a result of their failure to reach Euro 2008 under the Italian’s predecessor, Steve McClaren.

Friendly defeats by Brazil, France and Spain suggest Capello’s squad remain a little short of matching the world’s best but they have become efficient at disposing of second-tier nations.

A qualifying group that included highly-rated Croatia was navigated with ease, England winning nine of their ten matches and scoring 34 goals in the process.

Provided key players including Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are all fit, it is hard to see England failing to top the group.

FIFA’s rankings — which place the United States 14th in the world, Algeria 28th and Slovenia 33rd — suggest Bradley’s mix of veterans and new faces should join England in the second round.

But World Cups rarely respect the form book and Slovenia will go into the tournament on a high after pulling off a major upset by beating Russia in a play-off to clinch their place in the finals.