A Cyclist In France: A Big Scary Nurse

It's been a while but here's our latest update from our cyclist in France. Andy Phillips's blog posts have been a popular addition to our blog and will continue to do so on Sport Trades Pulse.

For those of you who are new to Andy and our blog, Mr Phillips is a Cat 2 cyclist whose progess we follow. So far on the blog we've heard how Andy got into cycling, his training methods and the start to his season which so far has been a mixed one. So what's next?

Andrew: Well I had some goals that I wanted to achieve this season. One of which was to get a podium position at the Charente Departmental Championships. This is a tough one as in my age category there are a number of first cats so it was always going to be difficult. The race was at a place called Reparsac on the 30th May.

I did quite well and was coping with the pace. Unfortunately it was a wet day and on the 3rd lap I crashed and skidded down the road. I got back on my bike and did another lap but I had a badly sprained wrist and a bad dose of road rash, and had to give up. Interestingly enough a couple of laps later there was a big crash at exactly the same place so perhaps there was something on the road.

The nurse was interesting to say the least! (see photo). Bit scary if you ask me. It was quite disappointing as my parents were over and had come to watch the race. They came last year to watch me at a place called Villefagnan.

Unfortunately at that race someone had a heart attack and the race was abandoned. So my parents have been over twice and have not seen me finish a race yet.

The crash at Reparsac sums up the last couple of months really. I have had some top 10 finishes and at times I have felt very strong. I am still making mistakes and some big ones. For example at Londigny, a race which could have had my name on it, I almost rode straight into a field.

My chain had come off for some reason and in chasing the peloton down, which I think I was doing quite well, I did not see an ‘S’ bend in the road. I was just watching the riders in front of me. Has anybody else ever done anything so stupid? I always cycle the circuit before the race but on this particular occasion I did not. I had driven it in the car a few days before but I forgot the ‘S’ bend.

One of my main gripes over the last couple of months has been the fact that quite often the 1st and 2nd cat’s race at the same time. The only difference being that the 1st cats do an additional lap to us.

This happened in the race yesterday at Prignac. The turnout was good. A lot of riders from all categories. I thought because of the number of riders that each category would have its own race. But no. At the start line when they announced that the 1st and 2nds would go off together my heart sank. I have never seen so many 1st cats before.

The pace was set by the 1st cats. It was a long flat circuit and some of the roads were quite narrow. There were attacks going on all the time and 5 second cats managed to get away with some 1st cats. Race over! Total confusion!

I stayed with the peloton and was strong at the end and finished 1st in the bunch sprint. So 6th overall. I was pleased with my performance and in some ways it was the best race I have done for a while.

But it is not fair that 5 guys were possibly pulled along by some 1st cats. It’s funny because at the race in Touvre a couple of weeks ago the 1st and 2nds set off separately and the 2nd cat peloton was lapped by some 1st cats. We had to let them go and would have been disqualified if anyone had been pulled along by them. SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Well enough of my moaning. Summer has arrived. The races are getting hotter. I think I ride quite well in the heat. I suffer. But there are riders who suffer more than me so bring it on. I have also had a good month of training. My friend Christian who is largely to blame for me cycling has started racing again and I have done some good training rides with him.

I would also, at this stage, like to thank Tony who helps to keep me on the road. Again after the crash at Reparsac he stepped in and did the necessary to get my bike and gears working. I would also like wish Paul a speedy recovery after another nasty crash. Hope to see you back on your bike soon.

Right that is it from me at this stage. Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me about all things cycling.

All Change at SportTrades

SportTrades have been ringing in the changes. The alterations were necessary to provide a more improved, effective and positive management for our current partners and cope with the influx of new clients.

Some SportTrades services may have suffered over the last two weeks and we apologise for the inconvenience that may of caused. Some clients maybe concerned about the changes, however, we will uphold our professionalism and commitment to all projects and remain loyal to all our beliefs within sport. There remains some familiar faces within the team, but we will be introducing our new Account Managers next week.

Today, we announce two changes. Our Business Development Manager will now head our Sales & Marketing Department. He will be responsible for the daily management of our Account Managers, customer service and Development programmes.

James Drew is now our Director of Sales & Marketing. Picture shows him celebrating in a recent National Express event at Wembley.

Pete Lewis is appointed as Director of Communications & Media with responsibility for SportTrades Pulse blog and Newsletter and also SportTrades Talk twitter site. Pete will also assist James in the development side of SportTrades in terms of identifying potential clients and projects.

Adam Dennehey will remain as our Communication & Media Manager with the same brief as previously.

We will be able to announce next week a number of very exciting projects and high profile clients joining us here at SportTrades.

World Cup 2010, SportTrades Group Predictions Results

The Group stages are over and we fast approach the Quarter Final stage without England. The World Cup Pulse files provided you with an insight into the teams competing in the tournament. It also gave you the SportTrades predictions for the group stage. So here is that update, but first our success rates.

Predicted Group Winners 62.5%

Predicted Qualifiers from Group: 56.25%

Correct Predicted Positions in Groups 31.25%

The first Team to appear will be the actual finish and the second SportTrades Prediction

Group A
1 Uruguay/France
2 Mexico/Uruguay
3 South Africa/South Africa
4 France/Mexico

Group B
1 Argentina/Argentina
2 South Korea/Nigeria
3 Greece/Greece
4 Nigeria/South Korea

Group C
1 USA/England
2 England/USA
3 Slovenia/Slovenia
4 Algeria/Algeria

Group D
1 Germany/Germany
2 Ghana/Australia
3 Australia/Serbia
4 Serbia/Ghana

Group E
1 Holland/Holland
2 Japan/Denmark
3 Denmark/Cameroon
4 Cameroon/Japan

Group F
1 Paraguay/Italy
2 Slovakia/Paraguay
3 New Zealand/Slovakia
4 Italy/New Zealand

Group G
1 Brazil/Brazil
2 Portugal/Ivory Coast
3 Ivory Coast/Portugal
4 North Korea/North Korea

Group H
1 Spain/Spain
2 Chile/Switzerland
3 Switzerland/Chile
4 Honduras/Honduras

SportTrades to follow St Pauli in Bundasliga 2010/2011

True the timing could be better, but no hard feelings. SportTrades are proud to announce another foray into European Football. We will continue to follow UD Lanzarote during this coming season in the weekly Sol y Futbol, but we add St Pauli from Germany to that list.

St Pauli are a radical club based in the Red Light District of Hamburg. Their philosophy is based around Politics, Art and Music. St Pauli are a true sports club, they have a very successful women's rugby side and an American Football team named the Buccaneers. St Pauli were promoted last season and play in the Bundasliga, they will be favourites for relegation this season.

A familiar name in the squad for the coming season is that of Moritz Volz ex Fulham and Arsenal

SHOUT: A World Cup Special

Technology that is the question. Last year we posted an article about technology and our view against bringing it into football. Sepp Bladder (I know 2 t’s) agreed with us. We split team sports into 2 groups, momentum and segment. Segment being the majority group, where there is natural break where TMO’s (Television Match Officials) can look at disputed decisions. Football is a momentum sport where a delay will disrupt the rhythm of a game.

Technology, which technology do you bring in and where? Do you bring Goal Line Technology, in which case Lampard would have scored or do you go further and bring in simply Goal Technology? In which case Lampard would have scored and Argentina’s first goal disallowed. Goal Technology would, as Gary Lineker, suggested, be limited to 3 appeals a game. Otherwise every goal would be disputed for whatever reason. Where do we use the technology? International, European Competitions or National Leagues. To introduce it at club level FIFA would instruct the confederations to start at the top level. Hang On! What about the world’s richest individual game? The Championship Play-Off. This debate could go on and doesn’t guarantee, like technology, 100% success.

England? The F.A will look in depth and try and determine the meltdown, they will have meetings, speak to the manager, never wear M&S suits again, they will collate in-depth analysis. Stop! We just were not good enough. Thankfully, the disallowed goal made no difference it became an ‘if’. If we had gone into half time 2-2, it would have been different. If Germany had taking their chances we would have been 4-0 down before we got to that incident. Our Scottish, Welsh and Irish brethren will mock. Just one minute, to play this badly in the finals of a World Cup Tournament you need to qualify. The hand of Henry, unjust yes, but Paul McShane should have launched that ball into the rues of St Denis before Le Tel got to it.

How do we stop this happening again? Well we need to follow our friends in Germany. The German F.A has ultimate authority. They do not pander to the Budasliga, they restrict the amount of non nationals able to play in domestic league matches and develop home grown talent. The Premier League is the F.A, but yet separate with its own identity. Bring it back under the F.A total control; lets have some joined up thinking and the football we deserve.

So the Steps ahead. These are not designed to win a tournament, how can you pre determine the weather, ball, form, pitch, luck or indeed human or technological error. It is designed to bolster team spirit and send players out to compete to their level of ability. That alone should put is in with a shout.

Step 1: If Fabio resigns, replace with David Beckham as a Director of football, surround him with coaches (No different from Fabio) or give Harry a go. David’s option is not full time, he needs to continue world domination. Harry will have to step down from Spurs and stop playing Wii with Jamie.

Step2: Limit non-national players for each club to a maximum of 3 on the field of play simultaneously per domestic match.

Step3: Of the players in a match day squad 3 must be under 21 (Help Development)

Step4: Non Nationals can not be brought over to clubs before their 18th Birthday.

Step5: Limit non National coaches per club; be proactive in identifying and education to attract professional players into coaching from the age of 25. Once retired their transformation into coaching is instant.

Step6: 70’s Total Football Dutch style included letting Kids enjoy football and express themselves. Give them back that freedom. The present system sterilises the game into the processed articles of individual clubs. By all means coach children from a certain age, but let them play in their weekend clubs with their mates when there is no game. They will highlight the fact that the player is susceptible to being targeted. Believe me his mates will protect him and in years ahead team mates and opponents will say well I played against..............

So England are coming home. You may remember earlier this month or maybe even last month we chose our World Cup 2’s. This was where SportTrades management selected teams they thought would play England in the final. These will now become they World Cup Winners predictions. A reminder,

World Cup 2's

Adam Dennehey: Spain
Jimmy Drew: Brazil
Pete Lewis: Portugal
Jason Beazley: Argentina
Rob McAvoy: Holland.

Amazing all five of us still in.

Yours in Sport

Rob McAvoy

COME ON FAB'S ARMY

A preview of THE MATCH, England vs Germany. The preview taking in full from our friend John Ley @ Telegraph Sport.



We owe Franz one, lets keep him quiet. DON'T TELL THEM YOUR NAME:FABIO.

It was, perhaps, inevitable England would meet Germany in South Africa, but few expected it so early on. Germany have impressed more than England at the World Cup so far, particularly against Australia. Yet they have lost, against Serbia, while England remain unbeaten.

The last time these teams met in the finals was back in 1990, when England suffered the cruelty of a penalty heartache. But on the previous occasion they met in the qualifiers England record their best ever win over their rivals, a remarkable 5-1 victory in Munich.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jerome Boateng and Mesut Ozil all picked up knocks against Ghana but Germany anticipate the trio to be fit. The Germans will also have Miroslav Klose available after suspension.

England, meanwhile, are expected to keep faith with Matthew Upson alongside John Terry even though Jamie Carragher is available after suspension. There is, though, a slight double over Wayne Rooney and his ankle problem.

Key Clash

John Terry v Miroslav Klose: Terry was immense against Slovenia, having received a verbal lashing from Capello.

Now he faces one of the most successful strikers in world football and has to produce another superlative performance, aided by Matthew Upson.

Klose is one short of 50 international goals and his return, from suspension, against England will be his 99th appearance for Germany.

Touchline duel

Fabio Capello v Joachim Low: Two cool customers will stand side by side in Bloemfontein and both have points to prove.

Low has been criticised for fielding such a young side but the fact Germany have qualified again suggests the future is bright.

Capello’s hold over discipline showed cracks but now he has the support of his players again and confidence has returned.

Talking tactics

Capello has resisted calls to play Wayne Rooney as a lone striker with Steven Gerrard playing just off him. Gerrard started on the left against Slovenia, though he did drift inside.

James Milner impressed on the right in that game and will continue, while Matthew Upson will be expected to deliver another good display alongside John Terry.

Germany have used a 4-2-3-1 formation for all three games, with Cacau replacing Klose against Ghana.

Fabio Capello: “The players needed the victory against Slovenia and I needed it. They can play against all the teams and I am sure the performance will always be at this level with this spirit.”

Hansi Flick (assistant manager): “We have a very young team and England are certainly the favourites. But beating Ghana made us mentally stronger.”

Teams

Germany (3-2-3-1): Neuer; Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Boateng; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Muller, Podolski, Ozil; Klose.
England (4-4-2): James; Johnson, Upson, Terry, A Cole; Milner, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard; Rooney, Defoe.
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Previous meetings

Played: 27 Germany 10, Draws 5, England 12

1930: (Berlin, Friendly): Germany 3 England 3
1935: (London, Friendly): England 3 Germany 0
1938: (Berlin, Friendly): Germany 3 England 6
1954: (London, Friendly): England 3 West Germany 1
1956: (West Berlin, Friendly): West Germany 1 England 3
1965: (Nuremburg, Friendly): West Germany 0 England 1
1966: (London, Friendly): England 1 West Germany 0
1966: (London, WC): England 4 W Germany 2 (aet)
1968: (Hanover, Friendly): West Germany 1 England 0
1970: (Leon, WC): W Germany 3 England 2 (aet)
1972: (London, EC): England 1 West Germany 3
1972: (West Berlin, EC): West Germany 0 England 0
1975: (London, Friendly): England 2 West Germany 0
1978: (Munich, Friendly): West Germany 2 England 1
1982: (Madrid, WC): W Germany 0 England 0
1982: (London, Friendly): England 1 West Germany 2
1985: (Mexico City, Friendly): England 3 West Germany 0
1987: (Düsseldorf, Friendly): West Germany 3 England 1
1990: (Turin, WC): W Germany 1 England 1 (West Germany 4-3 pens)
1991: (London, Friendly): England 0 Germany 1
1993: (Detroit, Friendly): Germany 2 England 1
1996: (London, EC): England 1 Germany 1 (Germany 5-6 pens)
2000: (Charleroi, EC): England 1 Germany 0
2000: (London, WCQ): England 0 Germany 1
2001: (Munich, WCQ): Germany 1 England 5
2007: (London, Friendly): England 1 Germany 2
2008: (Berlin, Friendly): Germany 1 England 2

Fact: Miroslav Klose has scored 11 goals in World Cup finals, just four behind all-time record scorer Ronaldo, who has 15.

He is only three behind Germany’s most prolific World Cup scorer, Gerd Müller. England’s highest scorer is Gary Lineker (10) while, in the present squad it is Steven Gerrard, with three.

Meanwhile, Germany have drawn only one of their last 15 games, keeping nine clean sheets in that spell.

All four previous knockout matches between England and Germany in major tournaments have gone to extra time.

Prediction: The time has come for England to beat Germany, and do it in regular time without penalties. England will win.

AZZURRI GO 'HOME IN SHAME'

It's left for Slovakia and Spain to battle it out for the SportTrades Tom Daley Trophy. Thank you to our friends at Sporting Life for this report.





The Italian press pulled no punches on Friday morning as they dissected the Azzurri's World Cup failure.

Marcello Lippi's men failed to negotiate a passage through the group phase in South Africa after losing 3-2 to Slovakia on Thursday in what was a weak defence of the trophy they won four years ago in Germany.

Gazzetta dello Sport led the condemnation with a headline of: "Humiliated by Slovakia, time to go home."

They also added: "Home in shame."

Corriere dello Sport continued in a similar vein with: "Italy, what shame! Out and last in the group."

Italy's leading broadsheet Corriere della Sera carried the story on its front page under the headline: "Italy, farewell to the World Cup.

In a special World Cup link, the paper added: "Disastrous Italy, the Azzurri go home.

La Repubblica focused more on the impact the failure would have on a country obsessed by football.

"Shame and tears, a nation to be rebuilt," said its headline, before adding: "Slovakia win 3-2 in Johannesburg to knock the Azzurri out in the first round, something that has not happened since 1974.

"We now look to (new coach Cesare) Prandelli."

Turin-based La Stampa blamed Lippi for the team's poor showing.

Their headline read: "The failure of Lippi in South Africa.

"The blackest page of our footballing history."

The Northumberland Plate Preview.

The Northumberland Plate has many happy memories from my childhood. So a bit of self indulgence, here is a betting preview of the John Smiths Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday. Preview from Bookies.com.

The bookmakers took a right pounding at Royal Ascot last week, and will be hoping that the winner of this Saturday’s big betting race, the Northumberland Plate, is not one of the well-fancied runners. The 2m9y race at Newcastle racecourse is for staying handicappers, and the ground is forecast to be good to firm.

The current antepost favourite for the race, Deauville Flyer, hails from the Tim Easterby yard and is a 7/1 chance with Bet 365. The race has not been too kind for the favourites over the last 10 years, as the only favourite to oblige in the time period was Juniper Girl in 2007 at 5/1. Only three winners of the race had a single-figure starting price and last year’s winner, Som Tala, was sent off at 16/1.

Deauville Flyer is a progressive handicapper chasing a hat-trick, but the four-year-old son of Dubai Destination is not guaranteed to make the cut. Another runner short in the antepost betting is this year’s winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle Overturn, generally available at 8/1 . If he can translate his hurdles form to the level, he must surely have a big chance, and connections have had the race in mind for some time now.

Junior won the Ascot Stakes last week for trainer David Pipe, and he could be well-handicapped off an official mark of 90. The seven-year-old made all the running over the 2m4f trip at the Royal meeting and is proving terrific value for his £35,000 auction price in May.

David Pipe also has the option of running Mamlook, the winner of this year’s Chester Vase. Mamlook swerved the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he has never won on ground faster than good.

Chiberta King is at 10/1 with most firms, and Red Cadeaux can be backed at 11/1 with Boylesports.

One runner that has been attracting bits and pieces of money in recent days is Elyaadi, who is at 12/1 with Boylesports. John Queally’s mare has been tried over hurdles before, and hails from the yard famous for Aintree specialist Al Eile.

If you are going to have an each-way bet on the Northumberland Plate, all of the bookmakers are offering four places at 1/4 the win odds.

Nortumberland Plate 2010 Odds from Paddy Power as of 9.50am 25th June

Deauville Flyer 6/1 5/1 9/2 4/1
Chiberta King 8/1
Mamlook 8/1
Overturn 7/1 8/1 11/1
Bernie The Bolt 14/1 12/1
Stanstill 20/1 16/1 12/1
Merchant of Dubai 12/1 14/1
Crackentorp 16/1 14/1
Desert Sea 20/1 14/1
Halla San 12/1 16/1
Drunken Sailor 14/1 16/1
Rajik 16/1
Aaim To Prosper 16/1 20/1
La Vecchia Scuola 20/1
Zaralabad 25/1
Sabotage 16/1 25/1 28/1
Royal Diamond 16/1 20/1 33/1
Spirit Is Needed 25/1 33/1
Macarthur 33/1 40/1
Becausewecan 33/1 40/1 50/1

Kilbeggan coup inspired by Dick Francis novel

IF THE betting coup at Kilbeggan on Monday evening read like something out of a Dick Francis novel, that's because it was. Article from our friends at the Racing Post

The extraordinary coup closely echoed a plot in Felix and Dick Francis's latest book Even Money, published in hardback last September and available in paperback on July 20, in which 30 ‘juvenile delinquents' are given strict instructions to go into different betting shops and place a £200 win bet on an outsider called Cricket Hero, who duly obliges, exactly five minutes before the off.

In mastermind Douglas Taylor's real-life version, 200 ‘runners', paid between €10 and €30, were instructed to place a €200 win bet on D Four Dave, part-owned by the managing director of the MCR Group, five minutes before the off of the Hurley Family Handicap Hurdle at 7.00.

All were given a letter which was obtained by the Irish Racing Post - with detailed instructions as to how to carry out the task and a watch to ensure all bets were placed at exactly the same time in separate betting shops around the Dublin and Kildare area.

"I wouldn't say it was months in the planning, weeks maybe," said Taylor yesterday, "but it was polished after reading Even Money.

"It didn't cost that much to organise. The watches were €6 each - and I'm hoping to flog those for €10 each soon. There were only five cars used with five lads supervising them.

"I got married on Saturday last and people were asking me was I nervous. I was telling them ‘yes' - but I meant I was nervous about Monday.

"The run-up to it was almost as exciting as anything else,there was a great buzz in the office. A big gang here were involved in programming the watches and writing out the betting slips."

The Conor O'Dwyer-trained D Four Dave was available at 14-1 on the morning of the great gamble andopened up at 7-1 on course, but was sent off at just 5-1 and galloped to an easy victory under Mark Walsh.

Taylor, from Cavan and living in Kilcloon in County Meath, continued: "The race itself couldn't have gone any better, it was like a dream. As Mark Walsh was being legged up I just told him that the lads had a few quid on each-way and not to be found wanting.

"He had reasonable form in point-to-points but he needed a step back up to three miles and not too strong competition. So the race was perfect for the job."

Even if all of the 200 runners had placed the €200 on the seven-length winner at SP, the winnings would have amounted to €200,000.

However, the vast majority of the 200 individuals employed to place the bets were foreign nationals, as the organisers sought to minimise the risk of information being leaked, and some could not read the instructions, while others tried to place the bet after the race had concluded.

Even with these hiccups, Taylor could yesterday confirm that the winning total was "not far off €200,000".

Poignantly, the tribute to Dick Francis's writing prowess came on the evening of his memorial service in London and his son Felix was delighted.

"I got the Racing Post primarily to read Alastair Down's report on my father's memorial service, but when I saw the front page I was amazed," said Francis, whose next book Crossfire hits the shops on September 2.

"I loved the story, especially as it was conducted on the same day as my father's service. I hope Douglas Taylor read the book, because it's straight out of those pages, except in the book the horse wasn't actually the horse it was a ringer, so I hope they've tested D Four Dave's DNA!"

This was not the first time a Francis novel has predicted the future. Felix Francis explained: "In Under Orders, the first of the books I really helped my father with, we had a three-time winner of the Gold Cupdropping down dead of a heart attack on the track and of course that is what later happened to Best Mate [Gold Cup winner 2003-2004, who died at Exeter in November 2005].

"Again in Even Money, when writing it a long time ago, I needed a way of killing off some parents and decided to have them die in an epidemic of swine flu and we all know what happened between the time of my writing it and it being published. My copy editor couldn't believe it. He said, ‘Why not write about a copy editor who wins the lottery next?'"

World Cup 2010 - Slovenia v England: match preview

If any one wants me, I'm in the pub! This is it then, at SportTrades we predict a 3-0win to England.




Article taking in full from our friends John Ley and Jeremy Wilson at the Daily Telegraph.

A match that almost certainly amounts to a play-off for qualification into the last 16, with Slovenia having the advantage of knowing that they would progress should there be a draw.

Slovenia have outperformed England in the most recent history of their respective matches against Algeria and the United States, but the longer term form says that Fabio Capello’s team should prevail.

Matthew Upson will start in defence for England following injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King as well as the suspension of Jamie Carragher, while Slovenia are waiting on the fitness of centre-back Marko Suler.

Key Clash

Frank Lampard v Robert Koren: Two midfielders with proven quality in front of goal. Koren, who is a free agent after being released at the end of last season by West Bromwich

Albion, scored Slovenia’s winner against Algeria and has a respectable strike-rate of a goal every five games throughout his club career. Lampard has comfortably bettered that ratio both for club and country but his most recent England goals only came last September.

Touchline duel

Fabio Capello v Matjaz Kek: As in every department, England have a huge theoretical edge in the dugout. Whereas Capello has managed with distinction in Italy, Spain and now England, Kek has never worked outside Slovenia.

Kek won two Slovenian league titles with Maribor before coaching the Under-15 and Under-16 national teams. He was then made Slovenia manager in 2002 and has overseen what is already their most successful ever World Cup campaign.

Talking tactics

Slovenia tend to employ a straightforward 4-4-2 formation and can be expected to defend in two fairly rigid banks of four. How Fabio Capello sets his team up to counter that style is one of the big debates, with Jermain

Defoe and Peter Crouch potential options to replace Emile Heskey. The more radical solution is to play Wayne Rooney in the role he performs for Manchester United as a lone striker, with Steven Gerrard behind. This would also open up a space for Joe Cole on the left of midfield.

Fabio Capello

"After this game we have no more chances. We have to win. The results have not been good, but I haven't seen the right spirit on the pitch for 90 minutes, only for five or six minutes. I hope in the next game the spirit I saw in qualification will return."

Matjaz Kek: "Any national teams knows it is an honour to play England and it’s no different for us. After all, football was invented there. It’s a great stage to present and promote our beautiful country."

Teams

Slovenia (4-4-2): 1 S Handanovic; 2 Brecko, 4 Suler, 5 Cesar, 13 Jokic, 17 Kirm, 8 Koren, 18 Radosavljevic, 10 Birsa; 9 Ljubijankic, 11 Novakovic
Substitutes: 12 J Handanovic, 16 Seliga, 3 Dzinic, 6 Ilic, 19 Filekovic, 22 Mavric, 7 Pecnik, 15 Krhin, 20 Komac, 21 Stevanovic, , 23 Matavz, 14 Dedic
England (4-4-2): 1 James; 2 Johnson, 15 Upson, 6 Terry, 3 A Cole; 16 Milner, 8 Lampard, 14 Barry, 4 Gerrard, 10 Rooney, 19 Defoe
Subs: 12 Green, 5 Dawson, 9 Crouch, 11 J Cole, 13 Warnock, 16 Milner, 17 Wright-Phillips, 20 King, 22 Carrick, 23 Hart, 21 Heskey
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).

Slovenia (Fifa ranking 25):

Injured: Pecnik (ankle)
Suspended: None
One yellow card: Suler, Cesar, Jokic, Kirm, Radosavljevic, Komac

England (8):

Injured: King (groin)
Suspended: Carragher
One yellow card: Gerrard, Milner

Previous meetings

Played: 1 Slovenia 0, Draws 0, England 1

2009: (London, friendly): England 2 Slovenia 1

Fact: The good news is that England have had 33 shots, the fourth best at the World Cup. And Slovenia have just 14 – the fewest in the competition.

Prediction: After the dismal draw Algeria, England are becoming desperate – and may struggle to get anything more than a draw.

Group C scenarios

England victory

If England win they qualify for the next round.

If USA beat Algeria by the same goal margin as England beat Slovenia then England will qualify in second place and face Group D winners on Sunday afternoon.

If England win by a better goal margin than USA, or USA do not beat Algeria, England will qualify as group winners and face Group D runners-up on Saturday night.

England defeat

If England lose they are out of the World Cup

England draw

If England draw, they cannot win the group. If USA also draw, England would qualify only if they score three more goals than the USA (eg Slovenia 3 England 3, USA 0 Algeria 0).

If the USA draw 0-0 and England 2-2, Fifa would have to draw lots to decide who goes through. The draw would happen at 6pm.

On The Couch with Dr Ted

Worried about what is going on in S.A and concerned about England's formation. Do Not Panic! Our specialist in Physical Science, Dr Ted, to the rescue (We have no cape bought for him yet either). Read it and it will all become crystal, Palace rather than clear. This article is reproduced in full, from the World Cup College blog and originates from MustReadSoccer.Com. You must read MustReadSoccer.com, some absolutely fantastic articles on there.

Now Dr Ted, diagnosis please,

Formations: Cartesian Coordinates or Dasein?

Scientific models are not physical representations of reality in the way that flat-pack assembly instructions represent furniture, but are images which assist us to comprehend a highly complex physical world. For example, the molecules that we breathe can be represented as tiny spheres bouncing off one another. Molecules behave as if they were tiny spheres, but this does not mean that they are tiny spheres: a scientific model is a visual aid to the imagination, illuminating processes which exist beyond the limits of our sensory experience.

A football formation could be regarded as a scientific model that helps us to understand a mutable topological arrangement which constantly alters over the temporal course of the game. During a match we do not see the players organized under a neat symmetrical formation. Formations such as 4-4-2 are therefore an aid to the imagination, and should demonstrate players’ approximate positions in relation to one another. To qualify as a scientific model, this representation could be expressed via mathematical equations. Using averaged positions based on where players touch the ball during a game would provide the underpinnings necessary to confirm that formations are scientific models. A Cartesian coordinate system would therefore capture the spatial location of each player: this should tally with formational representations to a meaningful degree.

However, based upon Cartesian coordinates, formations are poor representations of on-pitch reality. We should be able to make predictions from scientific models, but formations do not provide sound predictions of players’ average on-field positioning. Whilst the processual activity of football is more complex and messy than a simple model can express, the model should still have some predictive scope. When we look at the above graphic, we see that the formation could perhaps be expressed as 2-4-2-2. The full-backs push on to be level with the central midfielders, with the centre-backs, based on Cartesian coordinates, essentially the only defenders.

This indicates that we do not apprehend player positioning merely based upon coordinates: we also assess the game with regard to the human significance attached to the use of space. Heidegger’s notion of Dasein shows that our spatial relation with objects is based upon how we define space with regard to the specificity of human activities or being-in-the-world. Closeness and distance therefore only have meaning in relation to aspects of existence relevant to our being: on this basis, the friend I am waving to across the street is closer than the pavement underneath me of which I am unaware. Cartesian ontology is thus an abstraction from our understanding of space as a region of existence inextricably linked to meaningful human activity. Dasein is why we do not view football formations as 2-4-2-2, despite average on-field positions.

Average on-field positions are less vital to us when considering how teams line-up, than the understanding of the value of each position. For example, football fans know that, despite the full-back having licence to push forwards down their flank, their primary responsibility is defence. The key activity for the full-back is that which takes place when they join the centre-backs in defending the goal. On-field positioning suggests that full-backs are midfielders, but defensive work is fundamental to their role, with attacking forays crucial but ancillary. This is why, despite graphical representations to the contrary (as above), we consider that teams usually line up with four defenders.

Formations are ontological and epistemological: they do not simply represent what exists on the pitch, but show us how humans organise their understanding of the game. Rather than reflecting an external physical reality, formations capture a social reality which is more meaningfully expressed when mathematical coordinates are partially eschewed.

ROONEY SORRY FOR PITCH OUTBURST

By Simon Stone, Press Association Sport Chief Football Writer, Cape Town

Wayne Rooney has apologised for "any offence caused" by his post-match rant at England's fans in Cape Town on Friday night.

As he made his way off the pitch following the goalless draw with Algeria, a result that leaves England's qualification hopes hanging by a thread, Rooney turned to a television camera and condemned the fans who had booed the Three Lions' performance, before swearing.

After reflecting on his conduct overnight, Rooney admitted he had gone over the top.

"Last night, on reflection I said things in the heat of the moment that came out of frustration of both our performance and the result," Rooney said in a statement issued by the Football Association.

"For my part I apologise for any offence caused by my actions at the end of the game."

The 24-year-old allowed his frustrations to spill over after failing to score in his sixth consecutive tournament game, a run that dates back to Euro 2004.

Rooney's overall display was well below his usual level, prompting further questions to be raised about the Manchester United man's fitness.

Clearly agitated at a draw that left England in third place in Group C and outside the top two qualifying slots ahead of their final game with Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, Rooney snapped: "Nice to see your own fans booing you. If that's what loyal support is."

He then muttered a swear word as he walked towards the home dressing room, which was subsequently entered by an unauthorised supporter, shortly after the departure of Prince William and Prince Harry, prompting a major police inquiry.

The words were replayed almost immediately and have made headlines around the world.

With such a big match now looming and the pressure on him to deliver mounting, Rooney has taken the correct course of action by dealing with the matter so swiftly.

And he has also issued a rallying cry he hopes will lead to unity as England chase that crucial victory this week.

"I am as passionate about the England team as anyone," he added.

"The most important thing now is to regroup, be positive and work towards winning the game on Wednesday.

"To do this the players will need the support of the fans more than ever."

Although England fans have a reputation for being hard to please, it is hard to imagine they will turn on their talisman.

Indeed, some may view Rooney's conduct as being an admirable show of hunger and commitment, even if it was directed towards them.

SportTrades Comment
Wayne, no worries, your words caused no offence, in fact it was almost a complete sentence. Your performance, well as you've recognised, was something completely different - that did cause offence.

England win a World Tournament

England win a World Tournament, our friends at World Bowls Tour report on Ian Bonds victory last night. Not one single 007 joke in that link - but the temptation was great.

England's Ian Bond, the world No7 from Devon, tonight turned the seedings of The Co-operative Funeralcare World Matchplay Championship on their head by winning the prestigious World Bowls Tour title at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield in his maiden appearance in the event for the world's top eight players.

The 37-year-old from Crediton recovered from a dramatic fightback by Welsh wizard Jason Greenslade, the sixth seed from Pontypridd, to win 9-5, 5-6, 2-0.

Bond became the third successive eighth seed in the event to defeat the title-holder in the first round and go on to clinch the title.

The 'Devon Destroyer' began his maiden World Matchplay campaign by beating defending champion and fellow Englishman Mervyn King in the first round – in an encounter judged by many to the standout game of the tournament.

After overcoming compatriot Mark Royal, the world No3 from Suffolk, in straight sets in today's first semi-final, Bond found himself facing Welshman Greenslade for the title.

After a lacklustre set and half, the match came alive in the seventh end of the second set when, at a set and 2-4 down, Greenslade delivered a wonder bowl which tied the end – a positive result for the 40-year-old who had earlier dislodged his own winning bowl following a reckless shot.

With a straight sets win for Bond looking like a certainty, Greenslade then conjured up an incredible full house four shots in the final end to win the set – and take the match into a best-of-three-ends tie-break.

But Bond maintained his composure and clinched the first two ends to claim a popular 9-5, 5-6, 2-0 title victory – and the winner's cheque for £8,000.

"Bond is back," said the delighted Devonian when asked how it felt to win his first WBT singles title for over four years.

Success also made Bond only the fourth player in history to win a fifth WBT title.

In addition to this, the Exeter Exonia club stalwart also became the sixth and final player to earn a place in the 2010 Premier League Bowls event, which will take place for the first time this year in Cyprus, in September.

"Qualifying for the Premier League event makes tonight's win even sweeter," said Bond. "Maybe this additional element put added pressure on my opponents?"

"But it's always nice to win a title," added the new champion.

Greenslade, who led only once – at 5-4 – in the first set and not again until the end of the second set, was disappointed with his performance: "I feel I let myself down.

"I wasn’t so consistent as I was in my first two games, and I handed Ian the initiative on more than one occasion. That’s the third or fourth final that I’ve lost in that way, but in those I hadn’t prepared so thoroughly.

"This time, I took time off from outdoor bowls for the past two weeks - which didn’t go down too well at club and county level. But they should understand that doing well at his level is important."

On the remarkable four shots he secured to win the second set, Greenslade explained: "Normally, if you need to score a four to win a set, you will never do it, but when Ian went through with his second bowl, I knew I was in with a chance. I knew he was going to have a go at the head to take one of my bowls out, because that’s his game.

"When he missed, the pressure switched to me, because I didn’t want to fail to draw the fourth shot – but all was well.

"Ian was certainly more consistent than I was – and he deserved to win – but if I had won the first end of the tie-break, it could have been totally different."

Co-operative Funeralcare World Matchplay Championship, Sheffield, England

Semi-finals:

[8] Ian Bond (ENG) bt [4] Mark Royal (ENG) 9-3, 8-4

[6] Jason Greenslade (WAL) bt [7] Simon Skelton (ENG) 8-3, 6-5

Final:

[8] Ian Bond (ENG) bt [6] Jason Greenslade (WAL) 9-5, 5-6, 2-0

Schhh - ENGLAND WIN !

Keep it Quiet, England win. The world seems a little better. Head to Earls Court and Hug an Aussie. Our friends at PLANET RUGBY.COM have the report for us.

Australia 20 England 21

It only took seven years, but England finally got the better of the Wallabies on Australian soil thanks to a thrilling 21-20 victory in Sydney on Saturday.

Both side's crossed the whitewash twice, but the difference came from the tee - Matt Giteau missing on two occasions from an easy range to put his side in front that ultimately allowed the visitors to hang on for a memorable win.

It was a case of déjà vu for the hosts as 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson's boot ruined Australia's weekend.

Wilkinson, who made his first appearance at the Sydney Olympic Stadium since slotting the famous late drop-goal all those years ago, converted a 55th minute three-pointer that was the significant difference in England's win.

England had taken a half-time lead with maiden Test tries from Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton but the Wallabies hit back with Giteau scoring twice in a 20-point haul.

Wilkinson replaced Toby Flood early in the second half - and his first act was to land the penalty that pushed England ahead to seal only their third Test victory Down Under against the Wallabies.

England were barely recognisable from the team that was so soundly put in its place by the Wallabies in Perth last week. In what was by far their finest performance under Martin Johnson, the tourists played with confidence, intelligence and inventiveness throughout the 80 minutes and no-one can argue that they thoroughly deserved the win.

While England's scrum was their dominant weapon in the first Test in Perth last weekend, it was barely used on Saturday as an improved defence and dominant field position secured the unlikely result.

England opened the match with much greater intensity compared to last week and pressured the Australian inside backs, forcing a host of early errors. They were rewarded when the Wallabies gave away a defensive penalty in front of the posts and Toby Flood put England ahead 3-0 after just three minutes.

Five minutes later referee Romaine Poite penalised English prop Tim Payne for a punch in the scrum and Matt Giteau duly equalised with a simple kick at goal.

He made it 6-3 soon after with a penalty from 45 metres out, but the English were rewarded for their enterprise when Youngs scored a wonderful solo try, taking the ball from the back of the line-out, darting past the Australian forwards and outpacing Drew Mitchell to score.

In an entertaining first half the Wallabies struck back almost immediately, Giteau scoring after a superb break from winger Digby Ioane to put Australia ahead 13-10.

But England were soon in again as winger Ashton scored his first Test try, steaming onto an inside ball from lock Tom Palmer and breaking through the attempted tackle of James O'Connor.

Flood's conversion attempt went just wide and England went into the break with a well-deserved 15-13 lead.

The Wallabies backs had been well contained in the first half but they gave a show of their brilliance three minutes into the second as Quade Cooper and O'Connor broke away down the sideline before sending Giteau away for his second try and a 20-15 lead.

An Australian scrum collapse allowed Flood to narrow the gap to 20-18, almost his last act before being replaced by Wilkinson. Another scrum collapse saw Wilkinson kick a penalty from in front and an England lead.

Giteau had three chances to put the Australians back in front but missed them all, including one from right in front of the posts with 10 minutes to go while Wilkinson had an opportunity to kick a 79th minute penalty but his attempt also went wide.

Nevertheless, England managed to hold on to possession in the dying seconds and cleared the ball into touch at the sound of the final hooter.

Man of the match: Newcomers Ben Youngs at scrum-half and lock Courteney Lawes justified their selections, while the back three of Ben Foden, Mark Cueto and Chris Ashton, hardly seen in the first Test, looked dangerous every time they touched the ball. However our vote was an unanimous one in the end - Nick Easter played his best game in an England shirt and simply dominated from start to finish. He was found everywhere on the pitch, never dropped a ball and put in big hits.

Moment of the match: All the tries were eye-catching, but Ben Youngs' effort to put England back ahead thanks to a great individual run through the gap showed the visitors meant business.

Villain of the match: Matt Giteau may have scored all the Wallabies' points, but memories of his blunder against Scotland came back to haunt him as he missed one, and another and then another from bang in front that would have put his side in front!

The scorers:

For Australa:
Tries: Giteau 2
Cons: Giteau 2
Pens: Giteau 2

England:
Tries: Youngs, Ashton
Cons: Flood 2Pens: Flood 2, Wilkinson

Australia: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 James Slipper, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Adam Ashley-Cooper.


England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Chris Ashton, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody (c), 6 Tom Croft, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 David Wilson, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 James Haskell, 20 Danny Care, 21 Jonny Wilkinson, 22 Delon Armitage.


Referee: Romain Poite (France)

SportTrades Man of the Match: Ben Youngs. Provided quick ball from the rucks, solid kicking and a fantastic try.

World Cup 2010: Preview of England v Algeria.

Preview taking in full from our friends at Telegraph Sport by John Ley and Mark Ogden.



No room for error for England in Cape Town. The Algerians offered little in their 1-0defeat against Slovenia and looked even worse when losing a friendly against Ireland in Dublin last month.

But with the Slovenians lying in wait in Port Elizabeth next midweek, England must record a victory in Cape Town, otherwise a possible last 16 clash against Germany could zoom into focus.

Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi is a doubt with a knee injury, while striker Abdelkader Ghezzal is banned due to a red card against Slovenia. Fabio Capello faces big decisions on his goalkeeper and a partner for Wayne Rooney. Ledley King’s knee injury rules him out.

Touchline duel

Fabio Capello v Rabah Saadane: Saadane, in his fifth spell as Algeria coach, was at the helm when the Desert Foxes defeated Germany in the 1982 World Cup, but repeating that feat against England and Capello would top even that shock result.

Capello will note Saadane’s success in overcoming African champions Egypt in the play-offs, but the pressure is on the Italian to deliver. Failure to do so against Algeria will putgland’s qualification prospects in jeopardy.

Talking tactics

Algeria’s 3-0 friendly defeat against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last month highlighted a glaring weakness in the Desert Foxes ability to cope with crosses into the penalty area.

The centre-half Rafik Halliche also displayed a reckless nature by diving into tackles, so England should profit from the north Africans’ defensive frailties.

Key clash

Gareth Barry v Karim Ziani: Barry’s return from an ankle lay-off is well-timed, with Algeria’s playmaker Karim Ziani the one player who has the ability to trouble England.

The Wolfsburg midfielder will play just behind the front two, so Barry will be expected to stifle his creative talents while also providing protection for England’s flat-footed centre-back pairing of John Terry and Jamie Carragher.

Whether Barry is fully-fit remains open to debate with the Manchester City midfielder sidelined for six weeks with damaged ankle ligaments.

What they say

Fabio Capello: "In the second half of our first game, we finished better than the US and were able to run a lot. This usually happens with us as the other teams suffer because of the running. For this reason I'm really relaxed about this game."

Rabah Saadane: "England is one of the biggest teams in the tournament. My players will not need any other motivation than they are playing against England. If my team plays against Brazil or England it is a big motivation for them."

Teams

England (4-1-3-2): Green (12); Johnson (2), Carragher (18), Terry (6), A Cole (3); Barry (14); Lennon (7), Lampard (8), Gerrard (4); Rooney (10), Defoe (19)
Subs: James (g), Hart (g), Upson, Dawson, Warnock, J Cole, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Carrick, Heskey, Crouch.
Algeria: (4-3-1-2): Mbolhi (23); Guedioura (17), Bougherra (2), Halliche (5), Yahia (4); Mansouri (6), Lacen (8), Belhadj (3); Ziani (15); Djebbour (11), Yebda (19).
Subs: Gaouaoui (g), Matmour, Kadir, Boudebouz, Saifi, Bellaid, Laffaoui, Medjani, Mesbah, Abdoun.
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

Previous meetings

None

Fact: England have not failed to score in their group since 2002 against Nigeria.

Prediction: Nothing short of a win will be tolerated and England will get it.

New Season, New League, New Name.

Stevenage FC begin the 2010/2011 nPower League 2 season with a new name in the football league with a new title sponsor. nPower take over as the main sponsor of the football league and Stevenage drop 'Borough' from their official title.

Stevenage's first ever Football League fixture has paired them at home to Macclesfield on the opening day of the League Two season on 7 August.

After an outstanding 2009/10 season, Stevenage FC will be playing this season at the highest level the club has ever competed at, and they also discovered yesterday that they have drawn against recently relegated Premiership team Portsmouth in this years Carling Cup.

As Stevenage have adopted the catchy title of "Sporttrades favorite new npower League Two side", we wish them all the best for the coming season as well as this exciting cup tie. It's also worth pointing out that we have some exciting sponsorship opportunities through Stevenage FC, and for anybody wishing to find out more details about these should contact James Drew on: James.Drew@sporttrades.co.uk

Essex beat Somerset in Friends Provident T20

Article taking from Sky Sports

Essex enjoyed an entertaining ten-run victory over Somerset at Taunton, which was only soured by an injury to star man Ryan ten Doeschate.

All-rounder ten Doeschate top scored for Essex with a brisk 48, but he was forced to retire in the 17th over with what was later to be confirmed as a torn calf muscle.

He still helped Essex get up to 177-7, which did not look enough as Somerset reached 122-2 in the 13th over, but the hosts suffered a big collapse and they could only muster 167-9 in the end.

Both teams have now won two games and lost three in the South Division and will need to improve to feature in the quarter-finals.

The Essex innings was given a brisk start by Alastair Cook after they had won the toss. The England opener hit four fours in facing only nine balls before sweeping a ball from Zander de Bruyn straight to James Hildreth at short fine leg.

Ravi Bopara fell cheaply, but Matthew Walker hit four fours and a six in his 35, while ten Doeschate looked in supreme touch from the start of his innings and looked set to lift his side towards 200 as he took successive sixes off Arul Suppiah.

It was a massive blow for the Eagles when he collapsed attempting a quick single off Kieron Pollard with the total on 148 for four in the 17th over.

Alfonso Thomas (3-24) took the wickets of Grant Flower and Tim Phillips in a typically tight last over to keep Essex below 180.

That did not look like being enough when Marcus Trescothick (40) and Nick Compton put on 99 in 11 overs, or when Kieron Pollard came in to blast three sixes in the space of four balls off Kaneria. But he was out in the same over and Essex sensed their chance.

Compton was out hit-wicket trying to reverse sweep Masters, having faced 55 balls and hit 11 fours, but at 147-4 the home side still looked favourites.

But David Masters, Scott Styris and Chris Wright had other ideas at the death, bowling full and running through the middle and lower order.

It was later confirmed that ten Doeschate had suffered a torn calf muscle that is likely to keep him out for six weeks.

SportTrades have Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities at Essex County Cricket Club at their Chelmsford Headquarters. Contact info@sporttrades.co.uk for details

Wimbledon Countdown - No Englishman in Draw

This article was taking in full from the Guardian.co.uk.

Jamie Jackson reports about history in the making.

History will be created at next week's Wimbledon when for the first time since the Championships began in 1877 there will be no English player in the main draw of the men's singles, with confusion surrounding why James Ward was not offered a wild card by the Lawn Tennis Association.

The 23-year-old's ranking inside the top 250 before he fell ill at the end of last year meant he was within the LTA's criteria for issuing a wild card and the situation was muddied when the Scot Jamie Baker received an invitation despite his ranking of No254 when they were issued six weeks ago. He is now ranked No259.

Leon Smith, the LTA's head of player development, defended the situation regarding wild cards, saying: "There are fewer British men in the main draw because fewer wild cards have been handed out. We accept that this is where we are in the men's game, but what I saw in qualifying this week was British players fighting for every point, battling for a place in the Championships.

"That's what we need to concentrate on – creating an environment where more British players aren't just in the first round because of a wild card, but on merit, and not just in the first round, but fighting through to the later stages of the tournament."

Ward is now ranked 252 in the world. He was offered a wild card into qualifying for Wimbledon but decided instead to compete in the Aegon international at Eastbourne. The 23-year-old today defeated Rainer Schüttler, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2008, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the quarter-finals, having defeated Feliciano López, the top seed, in the previous round.

Those are the two best results of his career. Regarding the refusal of a wild card he said: "It's a little bit disappointing because I was out for six months. I wish that had been taken into consideration because I have been in the top 250 for the last 18 months. It is only that I dropped off points in the week before the cut-off for wild cards."

Ward now plays Alexandr Dolgopolov, the Ukrainian ranked 47th in the world. Of the 128-man field at Wimbledon, 104 are automatically invited, 16 places are gained via qualification while eight wild cards can be issued.

Wimbledon Countdown - Pat Cash Speaks Out

Pat Cash: LTA head should quit over shocking state of British tennis
• Australian accuses Roger Draper of failing youngsters
• Only two British men in Wimbledon draw

As a matter of fact. For the first time ever, there is no Englishman in the men's singles draw at Wimbledon.

The source of this article is the Press Association and it is taking in full from our friends at the Guardian.co.uk

The former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has called on the Lawn Tennis Association chief executive, Roger Draper, to resign for the "shocking" and "disgraceful" way Britain's governing body has let down the country's young tennis players at grassroots level.

When Draper took on the role in 2006 he vowed to revolutionise the sport and bring more of Britain's players into the top 100 of world tennis. Yet four years later, only two Britons - Andy Murray and Elena Baltacha – sit inside that mark, with world No4 Murray the only player to have a serious chance of winning a grand slam tournament this year.

Defeat for Alex Bogdanovic at Roehampton yesterday left Britain with only two qualifiers for the men's singles event at Wimbledon – Murray and the world No259, Jamie Baker, while the five probable women qualifiers are unlikely to make it into the final stages of the tournament.

In their 2009 annual report the LTA claimed over 30,000 young people played tennis on a regular basis, a significant rise of over 20,000 from when Draper took over in 2006.

Cash, who won Wimbledon in 1987, denies tennis is readily accessible to British young players, though, and reckons the £32m spent on the national tennis centre in Roehampton should have been directed towards encouraging youngsters into the sport.

"If the LTA think everything is all right they are insane," Cash said. "Most experts, including myself, have been shocked by the way they have neglected the grassroots with the kids that have been starting picking up tennis rackets.

"It has been quite shocking how little they have put into people who can't afford to be at a lovely club and get kids to play at local parks. You can't find tennis champions unless you have kids playing tennis. It's a very tough game to perform in. There is talent out there. There's no doubt about it. It's just about finding it and bringing them into sport, but what they have been doing is next to nothing. It's been disgraceful."

When asked whether he thought Draper should resign if Britain failed to perform well in the next few years, Cash replied: "I actually think Roger Draper should have gone years ago. He should have had the guts to say 'Look, I've underperformed. I'm embarrassed to have done so little'.

"In any other company, any other business, they would say it's time for him to go. They are the laughing stock of the world as far as tennis associations of the world go. There's not going to be a great performance for Britain at Wimbledon this year. If you look at the first day of qualifying for Wimbledon and all the men are out already. It's just another year of the same old thing."

In response to the allegations, an LTA spokesman said: "Investment in grassroots is our priority. We are spending over £40m over five years in improving facilities. We have more than half a million people playing tennis in England alone. That number is growing and we are looking to increase that number further.

"The statistics show that 79% of schools in England offer tennis as a sport and now 42% of schools are linked with a tennis club, that's up from 27% in 2003.

"It's not just in schools that we are moving forward. We are four years into a 10-year project, so yes, this will take time, but we are already starting to see encouraging signs both in performance tennis and at grassroots level. The accusation is that we are not getting kids playing tennis, but club membership among children has grown by 16% in the last three years."

As well as investing more in youth development, Cash believes more former players, such as Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, could be brought in to aid the progress of Britain's top players.

"Maybe they'll start asking some of the ex-players to get involved," Cash added. "They have talked to a lot of top-name players but they're quite happy with what they are doing even though it's clearly not working."

Jessica Ennis Wins European Athlete of the Month

June 16 - Britain's Jessica Ennis has been voted the European Athletes of the Month for May - the third time this year that the Sheffield multi-eventer has claimed the award.

Ennis, 24, continued her run of impressive form this year and dominated the proceedings in May at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Combined Events Challenge meeting in Gotzis, earning a total of 6,689 points in the heptathlon.

Ennis has proven to be unstoppable ever since winning the world title in Berlin last August, including winning the gold medal in the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships in Doha in March.

In an outstanding May she also defeated Olympic 400 metres champion Christine Ohuruogu over 150m in the Manchester Great City Games.

The men's award was won by Norway's Olympic, world and European javeln champion Andreas Thorkildsen.

He was given the award for regaining his mantle of world leader this outdoor season after throwing a huge 90.37 metres at the Florø Friidrettsfestival in Norway.

Earlier he started his 2010 campaign with an emphatic victory at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai.

The 28-year-old will be the centre of attention at this weekend’s European Team Championships, which is scheduled to take place in his homeland in Bergen.

Moldovan marathon runner Iaroslav Musinschi, who registered the best time by a European athlete this year in clocking 2 hours 08min 32sec en route to winning the Dusseldorf Marathon, came in a close second in the men's category.

Slovakia’s Matej Toth, who became the first ever medal winner from his country at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in taking the 50km Walk gold in Chihuahua, Mexico, with a time of 3:53:30, finished third in the polls.

The Czech Republic’s Denisa Rosolova and Hammer world record holder Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland finished second and third respectively in the women’s poll.

While Rosolova clocked a personal best and European-leading 50.85 in the 400m, the 24-year-old Wlodarczyk produced a world-leading throw of 75.74m at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava.

Get Your Kit On: Arsenal Away.

Our Friends @ www.football-shirts.com initially leaked next seasons Arsenal Away shirt, it has since appeared on the official Arsenal website.

The shirt, manufactured by Nike, is mainly yellow featuring dark red pinstripes and a dark red collar. The Nike logo is featured on the top right part of the shirt with the club crest placed on the opposite left. Fly Emirates, club shirt sponsor, have their logo featured in the center part of the shirt.

Support your Local. Fields in Trust

Those of you who were with SportTrades Pulse (Report, as it was then) from the start, will know we mentioned a Support your Local' campaign. The campaign was initially aimed at those football fans who followed Premier League sides to visit other local sides in the nPower League (Coca Cola League) or non-league football. Well, we will be launching that campaign, but it will include other sports and opportunities for individuals taking part in sport through local clubs. For the local community to participate in sport, you generally need a park or field. So to begin 'Support your local' we post the press statement released on the 7th June on behalf of Prince William. This statement covers the campaign to protect local playing fields to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Queens reign. During 'Support your Local' we will be highlighting a number of clubs, important to the community.

Fields in Trust

Prince William launches “Fields in Trust” Diamond Jubilee Tribute to The Queen
7th June 2010

Prince William is to become Patron of The Queen Elizabeth II Fields, an initiative to protect and create hundreds of playing fields throughout the United Kingdom in honour of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The project, run by Fields in Trust, is an ambitious programme which will ensure that people across the country, both now and for generations to come, have access to outdoor recreational spaces for sport and physical activity.

Prince William’s Patronage of The Queen Elizabeth II Fields (which, in Scotland, will be known as The Queen Elizabeth Fields) will be a personal tribute to The Queen to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60-year-reign. The Fields will form a lasting legacy of the Diamond Jubilee.

The launch of The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge coincides with the London Olympics and the start of the ‘decade of sport’ in the United Kingdom, during which the country will host several high-profile sporting tournaments. Prince William is keen to support Fields in Trust’s ambitious initiative given that ready access to playing fields has been shown to help with community cohesion, reduce anti-social behaviour and improve health and wellbeing – all areas in which Prince William is committed, through his existing Patronages.

Prince William said:

“The year 2012 marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to my Grandmother’s 60 glorious years on The Throne than to dedicate to The Queen this programme that will save playing fields for future generations.

“The sad truth is that, over the years, thousands of playing fields have been lost to development, and many more are under threat today. For more than 80 years, the Fields in Trust charity has been working hard to combat this threat by protecting playing fields across the UK from development. There has never been greater need for their work.

“The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge is ambitious but much needed. It will require the support of sporting bodies, local authorities and, most importantly, the British people in local communities up and down the country. I am certain the Fields will bring lasting benefit to countless individual lives. Being able to play outdoors is a basic right of childhood. The Queen Elizabeth II Fields will guarantee that millions more children are able to enjoy that right both now and in the future.”

Alison Moore-Gwyn, Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, said:

“Fields in Trust’s core vision is to ensure that everyone – whether they are young or old, able or disabled and no matter where they live – has access to outdoor space for sport, play and recreation. Access to these facilities is vital to ensuring our communities are robust and healthy – a health that is achieved not just through participating in physical activity but, equally importantly, by providing a sense of community cohesion.

“The 1,271 playing fields that we currently protect across the UK are often the green heart of the local area. Through The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge we want to bring this same benefit to even more communities. FIT has benefitted enormously from Royal Patronage since our foundation in 1925 and we are extremely excited to be working with Prince William to achieve this new goal.”

World Cup 2010: The Pulse Files - England

Welcome to the final Pulse Files of the countdown to World Cup 2010 South Africa. We complete the Group C and the competition in general with a look at England.

ENGLAND

History lesson
Knocked out in the quarter-finals six times, the semi-finals once and won it in 1966 when King Harold took an arrow in the eye for the lads. Forty-four years of frustration and soul-searching have followed, undone by scapegoated reserve goalkeepers (1970), semi-fit talismen missing sitters (1982), devious Argentinians (1986 and 1998), hubris (2002 and 2006) and unscrupulous foreigners practising penalties (1990, 1998 and 2006).

Tactics board
Fabio Capello has used 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 but 4-2-3-1 has been his most successful formation with Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard the two central midfielders, a right-wing flyer in Theo Walcott or Aaron Lennon, Steven Gerrard floating about the left and desperate to cut inside to create room for Ashley Cole up the flank, and Wayne Rooney playing off Emile Heskey who grinds down defenders with his running but almost never scores. The first-choice back four has hardly played together recently but that hasn't tempered the usual optimism that "this time, more than any other time, we'll get it right".

Grudge match
Anyone who has metaphorically spilt their pint over the past two centuries – basically every team but especially Germany, Portugal and Argentina.

Also Known as
The Three Lions – a marketing man's overhaul of the old Ingerland brand.

The players
Vuvuzela superstar
Wayne Rooney has evolved from a spud-faced nipper with a cocker spaniel's inability to leave any ball unchased and a turbulent temper that endangered Portuguese testicles into a truly world-class spud-faced forward who has harnessed his skills and drive. All this and the swashbuckler's natural, off-the-cuff talent to make defenders look as if they're playing in lead boots, too.

There's always Bolton
Nothing doing, David James apart, if he's willing to shift his Chopper collection and begin a painstaking search for a visually-impaired Bolton barber.

Laager lout
The 2009's Daddies Sauce dad of the year and former captain John "JT" Terry is the lawyer's friend. We blame the parents.#

The coach
Body double
Stick on a fez and whip off the specs and just like that you've got Tommy Cooper. Otherwise, Capello's Postman Pat in a foul temper.

Big game hunter
Six Serie A titles (or seven depending on your view of calciopoli) with Milan, Roma and Juventus as a coach and two in Spain 10 years apart with Real Madrid. Milan's 4-0 drubbing of Barcelona in the 1994 European Cup final was an astoundingly courageous tactical masterpiece.

Loved or loathed
Respect has blossomed into affection. Oddly masochistic relish remains at his "iron fist" and "rod of iron".

The country
Commentators' kit
Fabio Capello is fastidious about what he wears but his contempt for the ankle sock is strange. "When a gentleman crosses his legs and the trouser leg rides up to show hairy shins at the top of the sock," he says, "it offends my eyes." More than one reason, then, for his team to pull them up.

They gave the world
Sir Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday, Charles Babbage, Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Sir Winston Churchill, William Wilberforce, John, Paul, George and Ringo. In short, they gave the world a fine hand in almost any game of international bragging rights, not that they like to dwell on the past.

National monument
A once stiff upper lip that now needs Viagra to reach historical levels of rigidity.

Qualifying
Cruised to qualification after a ropey first-half during their first game against Andorra. Hammered Croatia 4-1 away and 5-1 at home to banish the Wally with the Brolly hangover. Won nine and lost only to Ukraine.

The Triesman tapes ... what he didn't say
"This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, this other Eden, demi-paradise... this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this Ingerland."

Statistics
World Cup record: 12 finals
P55 W25 D17 L13 F74 A47
Winners: 1, 1966
9: England have negotiated the group stage successfully on their last nine appearances in World Cup finals

Fixtures
USA, 12 June, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 7.30pm
Algeria, 18 June, Green Point Stadium, 7.30pm
Slovenia, 23 June, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 3pm

The verdict
The trust in Fabio Capello is accompanied by a fear that the squad is too thin to withstand much adversity. If Wayne Rooney stayed fit, if Steven Gerrard got his form back and if the centre-backs were in rude health, England would present a severe problem to most. Capello needs to refresh a dynamism that has waned. Semi-finalists.

THE TWO TOP WORLD CUP 2010 SONGS:

We have trawled through a number of songs, submitted by the good and the lunatic fringe and selected the best. This is obviously our opinion, just take our word for it.

The frst is James Corden and Dizzee Rascal ‘Shout’ the link is listed below. Please download this as the proceeds are going to a good cause.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-cup/2010/06/03/james-corden-and-dizzee-rascal-world-cup-song-listen-to-a-clip-of-the-song-here-115875-22305855/

The second is by a group of ex-pats in Lanzarote. The Skatoons have recorded ‘The World Cup’s Waiting For You’. Go to www.theskatoons.mfbiz.com. Well worth a listen.


John Crace from the Guardian takes an honest look at Team Selection:

In an ideal world, goalkeepers David James, Joe Hart and Rob Green would all find themselves on the subs bench. Unfortunately one of them has to play; it's a bit of a toss-up as to which. All three switch from being classy shot-stoppers to error-strewn amateurs in the blink of an eye.
Of the eight defenders, only Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson would give opposition strikers a sleepless night. Jamie Carragher is rusty, John Terry out of form, and Ledley King was off the pace against Mexico, and looks a sure bet to join Rio Ferdinand – who barely made it off the plane – in the physio room. Ferdinand's absence may do England a favour as King's Tottenham team-mate Michael Dawson, called up as a late replacement, is at least fit and in form. If Matthew Upson and Steve Warnock get a sniff of an outing, however, then the game really will be up.
The midfielders are rather more promising, especially if Gareth Barry is actually fit. Newly appointed skipper Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Aaron Lennon should complete a strong midfield quartet, with Lennon's pace making him a potential match-winner. Michael Carrick, James Millner and Joe Cole are more than adequate alternatives, although the completely useless Shaun Wright-Phillips can count himself lucky to make the squad ahead of the nearly-always useless Theo Walcott.
As for our so-called forwards, Emile Heskey has made an international career out of not scoring goals, while neither Wayne Rooney nor Jermaine Defoe can buy a goal at the moment – so we're going to have to rely on the ball bouncing unintentionally off various parts of Peter Crouch's 6ft 7in frame or the kindness of opposition own-goals to get on the score sheet . . .

Thats it from the Pulse File, we would like to thank our friends at Telegraph Sport, Guardian Sport, FIFA World Cup and Paddy Power for their help in compiling the Files. It leaves it to us to wish England the best of luck – bring it home boy’s

World Cup 2010: The Pulse Files, Group C

The Pulse Files covers Group C today. We will be focussing on the teams in England’s group before we post an England special on Wednesday. Thanks to our friends at The Guardian Sport.

The Paddy Power Index and SportTrades Group Predictions follow.

Taking in full from the World Cup 2010 Guide by Kevin McCarra in The Guardian. If you can get a copy, get one, as you can read below well worth it.

ALGERIA

History lesson
Playing at their third finals after 1982 and 1986. Having defeated West Germany and Chile in Spain, the deciding group game between West Germany and Austria, scheduled for a day after Algeria had played their last match, ended with the West Germans strolling to the 1-0 victory that eliminated Algeria. The two had engineered, by accident or design, the Love Thy Neighbour result that put both through. Fifa refused to criticise either side despite the huge number of back-passes, meaningless bouts of tippy-tappy possession and the outcome stinking of fish. But the last group matches were never again staggered.

Tactics board
Used 3-5-2 most in qualification with Portsmouth's Nadir Belhadj marauding up the left. Despite a leaky defence recently, it is usually their strongest suit but all three goalkeepers look weak. Ziani bosses a hard-working midfield yet upfront the snail-like Rafik Saifi and Abdelkader Ghezzal make Emile Heskey look prolific.

Grudge match
Already won it against Egypt in the play-offs when they had the last laugh after their coach had been bricked in Cairo. Remote possibility of avenging 1982 against Germany in the last 16.

Also known as
Les Fennecs – the Desert Foxes, the Terry Nutkin-friendly variety not the Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel type.

The players
Vuvuzela superstar
Karim Ziani, like Zinedine Zidane, is a French-born playmaker. No one eclipses Zizou for popularity in Algiers but Wolfsburg's stocky string-puller hits deftly subtle passes and viciously spinning crosses. He has a fiery streak but his size would limit trademark Zidane headbutts to the gonad zone instead of the chest.

There's always Bolton
Madjid Bougherra has impressed at Rangers but the potless board will happily flog the classy centre-half, known as Big Bougie at Ibrox, to the highest bidder.

Laager lout
The midfielder Khaled Lemmouchia was sent home from the Africa Cup of Nations for insulting the coach during a tantrum after failing to make the starting XI but his pouty contrition has earned him a recall.

The coach
Body double
Although the tache and Jay Gatsby cap give him a raffish air, Rabah Saâdane's doleful countenance and oyster eyes give him the hangdog charm of the late Willie Whitelaw.

Big game hunter
Now in his fifth spell at the helm, he led Algeria at the 1986 finals, drawing with Northern Ireland and limiting the Brazil of Sócrates, Josimar and Careca to a 1-0 victory. Beating Egypt in the play-off for South Africa crowns his resumé.

Loved or loathed
Players show respect by calling him "Sheikh" but Algiers press attack him as a stubborn old buffer with negative tactics.

The country
Commentators' kit
In 1827 Hussein Dey, the Ottoman Empire's viceroy in Algeria, hit the French consul in the face with his fly-whisk during a heated debate over France's unpaid debts. The French restoration King Charles X used the incident as a pretext for invasion, leading to 132 years of colonial rule. "No flies on him," yells Jonathan Pearce.

They gave the world
Albert Camus, the darling of existentialists and "intellectual" football fans who wear his quote "All that I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football" on T-shirts and an air of superiority on their faces.

National monument
The Sahara Desert covers 80% of Algeria. Sahara is the Arabic for desert, hence it is technically the Desert Desert.

Qualifying
Strong home record got them past Senegal, Gambia and Liberia then finished joint top of the final-stage group with Egypt. Antar Yahia's winner then beat the Pharaohs in an acrimonious Khartoum play-off.

The Triesman tapes ... what he didn't say"
Couscous dispatchers and avid sweet-savoury combiners who wear black polo necks and puff Gauloises on Paris's Rive Gauche."

Statistics
World Cup record: 2 finals
P6 W2 D1 L3 F6 A10
Highest finish: Round 1 in 1982, 1986
46: Total number of goals scored by Algeria in qualification for the 1982, 1986 and 2010 World Cup finals

Fixtures
Slovenia, 13 June, Peter Mokaba Stadium, 12.30pm
England, 18 June, Green Point Stadium, 7.30pm
USA, 23 June, Loftus Versfeld, 3pm

The verdict
The World Cup is humdrum by comparison after group games and a play-off match with Egypt that brought governments into conflict. A 4-0 rout of Algeria in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations was weak revenge for Egypt but it highlighted problems with Rabah Saadane's squad. A first appearance at the finals for 24 years may be uneasy.


SLOVENIA

History lesson
Played their first matches in 1992 after independence from Yugoslavia a year earlier and made rapid progress, qualifying for Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup. Lost all three matches in South Korea, their fortunes derailed when pouty play-maker Zlatko Zahovic was substituted during the defeat by Spain and went all Roy Keane. "You're a prick of a coach and you were a prick of a player," he shouted at Srecko Katanec. "I could buy you, your house and your family." He couldn't even buy himself a decent haircut.

Tactics board
It's 4-4-2 all the way, based on an exceptionally tight defence that conceded only four goals in 10 group games. West Brom's Robert Koren supplies the midfield guile and the tricky Valter Birsa cuts in from the left in much the same way Luka Modric did for Tottenham before Gareth Bale's re-emergence. Zlatko Dedic, the support striker, is the epitome of this impressively industrious side, running his legs to stumps to link midfield and attack.

Grudge match
Potential clash with Serbia in the last 16 would be tasty but their true rivalry is with Croatia, who did not make it yet bore the neighbours by banging on about their third-place in 1998 and Goran Ivanisevic.

Also known as
Zmajceki – the Dragons – which seems perfectly ripe for some tenuous St George-related guff before the England match.

The players
Vuvuzela superstar
The lank-haired centre-forward Milivoje Novakovic is a 6ft 4in Derek Douganesque beanpole whose sly, predatory penalty box skills have got him 14 international goals. Samir Handanovic, the Udinese goalkeeper, is pretty, er, handy, too.

There's always Bolton
Zlatko Dedic scored the goal that did for Russia and forced the Slovenia prime minister, Borut Pahor, to honour his pre-tie pledge and clean the squad's boots. The much-travelled Bochum striker would fit the Reebok template of centre-forwards whose goals are few and far between.

Laager lout
Hardly in Zahovic's class, but Novakovic was stripped of the Cologne captaincy after staying at home too long to celebrate victory in the play-offs.

The coach
Body double
A cross between Adrian Chiles and hoofer extraordinaire Chris Hollins. If the BBC were recruiting for the One Show sofa on face symmetry alone, Matjaz Kek would be a shoo-in.

Big game hunter
Overcoming Russia in the play-offs is the current pinnacle for this quiet and likeable coach. Took Maribor to two domestic titles before moving to Slovenia's youth set-up.

Loved or loathed
Slovenia needed a safe pair of hands after the upheaval following Srecko Katanec's tempestuous reign and got one with Kek. Formerly respected more than adored, he returned from Russia with love.

The country
Commentators' kit
In 1980 archeologists found the bone of a bear with holes drilled into it in a cave in western Slovenia. Initially thought to be the recipient of Paul Scholes's first ever tackle, it is now believed to be Europe's oldest musical instrument.

They gave the world
Butja Repa – a delightful national dish made from lard and a pig's head, neck and skin. Roughage comes when groats of millet are added while the health freaks get one of their five-a-day from the sour turnips added towards the end of the process. Gourmands insist grease is the word and demand it is best served cold.

National monument
The prancing, slightly camp Lipizzaner stallions of Vienna's Spanish Riding School originally came from Lipica in Slovenia.

Qualifying
Won four of five at home but lost to Northern Ireland away as they came second behind Slovakia. Lost 2-1 to Russia in Moscow in the play-off but went through on away goals after a 1-0 victory in Maribor.

The Triesman tapes ... what he didn't say
"Dumpling-devouring, cave zealots who gather together in rural harmony troupes to boast incessantly about an abundance of trees."

Statistics
World Cup record 1 finals
P3 W0 D0 L3 F2 A7
Highest finish: Round 1 in 2002
13: Goals scored in 36 matches by Milivoje Novakovic, stripped of Cologne's captaincy after his play-off celebrations overran

Fixtures
Algeria, 13 June, Peter Mokaba Stadium ,12.30pm
USA, 18 June, Ellis Park, 3pm
England, 23 June, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 3pm

The verdict
"Their presence verges on the preposterous. A nation of 2m people produced a side to beat Russia in the play-offs. Slovenia revels in the overachievement of a team captained by West Brom's Robert Koren. The manager, Matjaz Kek, has an effective striker in Milivoje Novakovic of Cologne and the defending in the qualifiers was rigorous."


USA

History lesson
Have never bettered their losing semi-final appearance in the inaugural tournament though their defeat of England in 1950 was another rare pinnacle. Woeful in 1990 and again in 1998 when Iran humiliated them, they made the last 16 as hosts in 1994 and went one better in 2002 with an outstanding victory over Portugal before losing to Germany in the quarter-finals. Last time round was the dampest of squibs, exiting at the group stage when their traditional lack of flair was exposed by Ghana in the deciding match.

Tactics board
Tried 4-5-1 in qualification but Hull's Jozy Altidore doesn't have the nous or relentless running power to lead the line effectively. Expect Clint Dempsey to share the forward burden in a 4-4-2, with two holding midfielders in Maurice Edu and Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan given licence to break forward from his position on the left.

Grudge match
They despise Mexico, the historic Concacaf powerhouses, whom they suspect of treating them like parvenus. It would be a possible if unlikely quarter-final match when Mexico would look for revenge for their second-round defeat in 2002 and the USA for Rafael Márquez's brutal assault on Cobi Jones during that game.

Also known as
The Yanks but no longer do a roaring trade in swapping chewing gum for "favours".

The players
Vuvuzela superstar
The Stars and Stripes have few stellar performers. Landon Donovan has talked the talk for years and his excellent loan spell at Everton this year suggests he's finally becoming as good as he thinks he is.

There's always Bolton
Michael Bradley, the son of "Coach Bob" Bradley, has curbed his clogging this season with Borussia Mönchengladbach and has a Tim Cahillesque knack of getting into the box at exactly the right time.

Laager lout
Carlos Bocanegra, the captain, crocked Aston Villa's Mark Delaney with a grotesque foul while playing for Fulham in 2004. Villa's then manager, David O'Leary, had to be restrained from giving Bocanegra, Spanish for "black mouth", an eye to match his gob.

The coach
Body double
A cross between Sergeant Bilko's goofy commanding officer Colonel John T Hall and Sir Clive Woodward.

Big game hunter
Bob Bradley won the MLS Cup with Chicago Fire in 1998 and was appointed national coach in 2006 after attempts to hire Jürgen Klinsmann foundered over contract negotiations. Beat Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup before squandering a 2-0 lead in the final to end as runners-up to Brazil.

Loved or loathed
Some fans remain unconvinced by second-choice Bob or "Baaaaaab" as they call him. Most of the rest simply want him sacked.

The country
Commentators' kit
Rangers' DaMarcus Beasley looked out of his central Glasgow apartment window in February to see his £65,000 BMW erupt in flames after it was firebombed. At the 2002 World Cup, while preparing to come on as a substitute, he was caught short and solved his dilemma by urinating down his leg. Had he been true to form he could have saved Messrs McCuthbert, McDibble and McGrub the bother.

They gave the world
"All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." And Spam.

National monument
The Statue of Liberty, still the cheapest way to get inside a woman in New York.

Qualifying
A three-stage affair ended when they topped the last group by a point from Mexico. Losing to their old foes in Mexico City was the only blip but they had already beaten them at home to share bragging rights.

The Triesman tapes ... what he didn't say
"Dental hygiene fascists and incorrigible donners of khaki trousers who have to invent abstruse games to call themselves world champions."

Statistics
World Cup record: 8 finals
P25 W6 D17 L13 F27 A51
Highest finish: Third place, 1, 1930
58: USA's matches unbeaten at home against Concacaf rivals until July last year when beaten 5-0 by Mexico in the Gold Cup

Fixtures
England, 12 June, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 7.30pm
Slovenia, 18 June, Ellis Park, 3pm
Algeria, 23 June, Loftus Versfeld, 3pm

The verdict
"The outfield players are capable while Tim Howard and the other goalkeepers are more impressive still. Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and others exercised a steadiness in the qualifiers that included victory in Mexico. A win over Spain at the Confederations Cup highlighted the serious test for England."

PADDY POWER INDEX
England 15/2 USA 80/1 SLOVENIA 300/1 ALGERIA 600/1

SportTrades Group Prediction.
In line with Paddy Power,
1 England
2 USA
3 Slovenia
4 Algeria

We will be back on Wednesday with the final Pulse Files. Our England Special. We will appear now and then throughout the tournament, with the odd story that amuses us.