2010 FIFA World Cup: England vs. Platinum Stars, a Final Warm-Up Game

England play their final game before the 2010 World Cup in a warm-up match against local South African side the Platinum Stars.

This friendly gives coach Fabio Capello a final opportunity to move around his team ahead of their first game against the United States.

Their has been fears that this little friendly will put the England players at risk.

Rio Ferdinand has already been ruled out of the tournament after picking up a knee injury in training.

There is a worry that more players will be injured, and that this game could result in the end of England's hopes of being crowned world campions.

On the bright side, who has ever heard of the Platinum Stars? It sounds more like a music group than a football team.

This game is going to be totally one sided. An international team, in competition to win the world cup, against a local team who came 14th in the South African Premier League. Its like a match between France and Bolton.

The South African team is not the creme of the crop. Their is a drunk kicked out by Tottenham, the third-best goalkeeper in Zimbabwe and a striker who was once banned for six months for spitting at one of is opponents.

Its not exactly the sort of opposition that you would have picked to play (hopefully) the next world champions.

Capello is expected to play most if not all of his starting 11 that will play against the USA on Saturday.

Around 12,000 locals are expected to watch the game at the Moruleng Stadium. The last match there was Nigeria against North Korea.

As these friendlies are free to watch for the fans, more people turn up than the stadium can hold. So at that last game on sunday, 16 people were hurt as there was a stampede to get through the entrance gates.

My Prediction: 10 - 0.

That may be an over reaction, but its not like The Platinu stars are going to put as much pressure on England than their World Cup opponents.