England Draw USA, Algeria, and Slovenia In 2010 World Cup Group

England will face the USA, Algeria, and Slovenia in the group stages of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa next June.

They avoided the so-called “group of death” and, barring an exceptional meltdown, look set to advance to the knockout stages.

While Spain, Italy, and Argentina received favorable draws, Brazil will lock horns with Portugal, the Ivory Coast, and North Korea.

With only two teams able to qualify from each group, at least one big footballing nation will fall before the last 16.

If England wins Group C, they will play the runner-up of Group D, which includes Germany and Australia.

If England finishes second in their group, they will play the winner of Group D.

England has won eight of their 10 matches against the USA, who is ranked 14th in the FIFA world ranking and led by Landon Donovan. They have only faced America once in the World Cup, and that was 59 years ago in Brazil.

They have never played Algeria before in any format, but they are ranked 28 in the world and feature players such as Portsmouth's Nadir Belhadj and Lazio midfielder Mourad Meghni.

Slovenia—who reached the finals after beating Russia in a playoff—lost to England in their only ever meeting at Wembley in September.

Should both England and Argentina win their groups, they would not meet until the final.

England will play their first match against the USA on Saturday, June 12, in Rustenburg at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Two days ago, I predicted that qualifying would be smooth sailing if England avoided Portugal and France.

With the USA posing the only real threat to winning the group, England are all but assured of a spot in the last 16 where they will likely face Australia.

This draw could not have worked out much better for England who will now go into the tournament with high hopes and the weight of an expectant nation on their shoulders.

Group A

South Africa

Mexico

Uruguay

France

Group B

Argentina

South Korea

Nigeria

Greece

Group C

England

USA

Algeria

Slovenia

Group D

Germany

Australia

Ghana

Serbia

Group E

Netherlands

Japan

Cameroon

Denmark

Group F

Italy

New Zealand

Paraguay

Slovakia

Group G

Brazil

North Korea

Ivory Coast

Portugal

Group H

Spain

Honduras

Chile

Switzerland