World Cup 2010:Slovenia shift focus to USA

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek has revealed that his side are focused on the next match against USA after their 1-0 win over Algeria.

"Now we will go on to Johannesburg," Kek told Slovenian daily Delo.

"We'll have some drinks, take the time to relax and then prepare for the next match."

Slovenia bagged all three points against Algeria and go top of Group C all thanks to an Robert Green-like error from Algeria goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi after he misjudged a tame shot from Robert Koren.

"In the end I was lucky that the ball went into the net," admitted Koren.

"We all know that all the keepers do not have much confidence with the ball because it is very difficult to control so we decided to get as many shots as possible at goal and we are really pleased that one went into the net."

"We played as a team that was waiting for his chance," added Kek.

"One mistake gave us the game but I think Algeria were unfortunate. They can play better and I hope that they can beat England in the next match to help us progress."

"It was a mental victory. We wanted to win so much, so it's great for our confidence to get that win."

Slovenia take on USA next on 18 June.

Spector: We can shock England!

USA defender Jonathan Spector believes his country can pull off a World Cup shock against England.

England meet the USA in their Group C opener on Saturday with Fabio Capello's men heavy favourites to beat the Americans and progress from the group.

West Ham defender Spector is relishing being underdogs and admits the main objective for hs side is to qualify for the knockout stages.

"The whole squad is looking forward to South Africa and we are all ready and raring to go," Spector told skysports.com.

"There is massive interest back home in the England game as it is a throwback to the 1950 World Cup game between the two countries. I am sure the game will be a big deal in both countries.

"I think if you look at our group all the teams will feel England are favourites to win it. England first up will be a difficult game, but we will have no pressure on us as we will be underdogs.

"If we play how we can we feel we can nick something from the game with England.

"If you look around the rest of the group anything is possible and our main objective is to get out of the group."


Spector feels England are one of the main contenders to claim the World Cup and believes they have the quality to go all the way in the finals.

"England have got a fantastic side and they are one of five sides that can win the tournament," he said.

"Fabio Capello has done a great job and he has got the players playing well together.

"England have the ability to do well as you just have to look at their attacking prowess.

"They have very few weaknesses and have a lot of strength in depth so they have probably their best chance in years to win the World Cup."

Spector is eager to figure in this summer's finals having missed out in 2006 due to a shoulder injury.

The 24-year-old was a regular in USA's successful qualification campaign and he is excited at playing on football's biggest stage.

"I dislocated my shoulder just before the end of the season in 2006 meaning I was forced to miss the World Cup in Germany," he said.

"I also missed the Olympics in 2008 due to injury so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be OK for the World Cup."

USA finished runners-up in last summer's Confederations Cup and Spector hopes his side can continue that success in South Africa.

"We hope we can build on last summer's Confederations Cup campaign when we finished runners-up," noted Spector.

"We beat Spain in the tournament and gave Brazil a real run for their money in the final."

Spector admits they the USA will look at to their star duo Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to inspire them at the finals.

"Landon Donovan had a really big impact at Everton and we will be looking the same from him at the World Cup," he added.

"Clint Dempsey has also enjoyed a good season for Fulham and both players are key to our plans."

Gullit: Sneijder will be World Cup star

Ruud Gullit has tipped Wesley Sneijder to be the star of the 2010 FIFA World Cup but admitted that Spain are the favourites.

The former Dutch international has high regards for the Inter playmaker, whom he felt was wrongly discarded by Real Madrid.

"The Netherlands can do really well if they play as they know. They have a special player in Sneijder... he has a brain and will be the star of the tournament," Gullit told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Wesley has always been a great player. Florentino Perez made a mistake selling him to Inter, he also made an error getting rid of [Arjen] Robben.

"He [Perez] realised and he regrets it. How can you sell players like these?"

Despite being optimistic about his national side's chances in South Africa, Gullit believes that Spain will be crowned world champions on 11 July.

"It will be a great World Cup and for me the favourites are Spain above everyone else," he concluded.

Netherlands will kick off their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign against Denmark on 14 June.

Ballack too much for Bundesliga pair

Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen suggested they are not able to offer Michael Ballack a return to the Bundesliga on financial grounds.

Germany captain Ballack, who will miss the World Cup after damaging ankle ligaments in the FA Cup final, will be a free agent when his Chelsea contract expires at the end of the month.

He claims to have "some options" in his homeland but both Bremen and former club Leverkusen believe his wage demands would price them out.

Bremen's general manager Klaus Allofs told Kicker: "Although it would be nice it is an illusion."

Ballack played for Leverkusen from 1999 to 2002 but business manager Wolfgang Holzhauser is another who believes the 33-year-old is out of range.

He added: "The relationship between Bayer and Michael Ballack was always special and we were an important step in his career.

"A question is whether we could afford such a move now.

"We have not had any talks on the issue as yet but I must say I have my doubts."

The most obvious candidates for the midfielder's signature are Bayern Munich, who Ballack left for Stamford Bridge in 2006, and Wolfsburg.

Bayern have the financial muscle while Wolfsburg, backed by automotive giants Volkswagen, could also make a move.

World Cup 2010:Knowledge is power for Kolo Toure

Ivory Coast's Kolo Toure hopes his side's knowledge of Brazilian and Portuguese rivals will be of use as they look to advance from the World Cup's 'group of death'.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's team have their work cut out to get to the knockout phase in South Africa, with a tough opening assignment against Portugal followed by clashes with Brazil and North Korea in Group G.

But Toure is upbeat the Elephants will have the know-how to get to the last 16.

The 29-year-old Manchester City man said: "We've got a talented squad. We're well prepared and we will work very hard, but we know it's going to be tough against Brazil and Portugal especially.

"Of course, my team-mates and I have played against many of their players in European club competitions so we know what to expect.

"North Korea are much less familiar. If we can get through to the second round, who knows?"

World Cup 2010:Heskey backs Wayne Rooney's appraoch

Emile Heskey has defended Wayne Rooney over his conduct in Monday's practice match against the Platinum Stars.

Rooney was booked shortly after his introduction at half-time and referee Jeff Selogilwe has warned the England striker he risks getting sent off during the World Cup unless he curbs his behaviour.

But Heskey does not see a problem.

Tipped to partner Rooney in Rustenburg this weekend for the Group C opener against the United States, the 32-year-old felt his strike partner gave England a much-needed lift.

"A lot was made of it but at times his passion has been misread for anger," Heskey told BBC Radio Five Live.

"When he came on the pitch he got the lads going.

"We probably needed that because we were a little bit flat.

"He picked us up and gave us the boost we needed.

"It is not anger. He just wants to win. He is so passionate, he wears everything on his sleeve."

Heskey played a major part in the other high-profile incident during England's build-up so far when he fell on Rio Ferdinand in training on Friday.

Ferdinand described the accident as a "freak" but it was enough to rule him out of the World Cup, something that has brought Heskey more criticism from some England fans.

"I tried to turn a ball round the corner. I fell backwards onto him and his leg was in a position that meant he couldn't move it," recalled the Aston Villa man.

"There was nothing you could do.

"Knowing he is out of the World Cup was very difficult.

"He is our captain and has been a great player through the years for England and at club level.

"I spoke to him afterwards but it was just one of those things."

With seven goals in 58 internationals, Heskey is hardly a major contributor to England's scoring prowess.

However, Capello recognises how difficult he can be to tie down, and how much more effective Rooney and Steven Gerrard can be when he is on the field.

"Forwards are judged on their goalscoring," acknowledged the Aston Villa forward.

"People do look at that. But I like to think I bring a lot more to the game and I do get pleasure from assisting.

"I also get pleasure from being part of a winning side.

"I do sometimes think I could have done better in certain situations and got a goal myself but that is part and parcel of the game."

World Cup 2010:Desailly pleased by French harmony

Former France defender Marcel Desailly believes the mood in Les Bleus' camp is upbeat ahead of their World Cup opener against Uruguay on Friday.

Raymond Domenech's side have endured a difficult build-up to the tournament in South Africa, with friendly outings producing a narrow 2-1 win over Costa Rica, a 1-1 draw with Tunisia and a shock 1-0 reverse to China.

Domenech will leave his post at the end of the tournament with Laurent Blanc due to take up the reins, but Desailly, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, believes the coach is finally succeeding in bringing harmony to the squad.

"I've been pleasantly surprised. There seems to be a positive attitude between the players in the group and the communication has been very good," Desailly told FourFourTwo.com.

"In the past Domenech was not communicating like everyone wanted, but now you see happiness and joy and the idea that everyone is pulling together to try to achieve something."