GhostOfDixie
Player Valuation: £70m
Almost 60 years ago an England team walked out on to the turf Estádio Independência in South East Brazil. A team full of confidence boasting household names such as the late great Alf Ramsey, the incredulous captain Billy Wright, and superstars such as Tom Finney and Stan Mortensen.
Their opponents, a side made up of high school teachers, mail delivery men and guys who simply washed up in their spare time. This was totally a David v Goliath situation.
The world expected England to walk all over the USA. This was their sport, the Americans had Baseball, their very own Yankees were again walking to another World Series. The Cold War was kicking in, and football, or soccer as they liked to call it was simply not important.
What followed was a shock, a disaster, it didn't happen. Illustrated perfectly by Wilf Mannion,
"Bloody ridiculous. Can't we play them again tomorrow?"
Fortunately England picked themselves up in 1966 and strolled home with the trophy, then lost it before a dog called Pickles found it again.
Since then? Well England have seen the door, but not quite reached it to knock on it again. The US? well football vanished for a fair few years, briefly raising interest during the 70s and the infamous NASL - which served as the retirement home for players such as George Best, Pele, Beckanbauer and Sam Allardyce (oh yes).
In 1994 the USA were given the privilege of hosting the tournament, but this had clearly nothing to do with the game, and more to do with the commercial viability of the project, and this was not helped by Diana Ross's inability to score from 4 yards out. Also worth noting this was a World Cup that England failed to qualify for and was as such rubbed out of memory for many stalwarts of the 3 lions.
What followed the 1994 World Cup for England was pretty much similar to what proceeded it, and now we find the golden era in the last chance saloon, ran by an Italian general who prefers tanga briefs over boxers.
The USA however have seen a massive resurgence in quality, the Premier League especially has seen rise to players like Clint Dempsey, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, loads more keepers including are own Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Brad Friedel and the main man Joe Max Moore.
In 2002 Uncle Sam actually reached the Quarter Finals, and it was safe to say they were a threat to the rest of the world, and finally we took notice of these upstarts, and the natives finally understood why nobody was padded up to the eyeballs and not using their hands in the penalty area.
So now we approach the 2010 World Cup, England face The United States of America. It's the Empire vs the Colony. Stars and Stripes vs Three Lions. Who will win?
England have suffered with the loss of Rio Ferdinand on the eve of the competition, and the hopes of the nation lie with a young lad from Croxteth.
Who stands in his way? A player whom he does look out for when he's not slamming 30 yard volleys past unsuspecting keepers. So who else does Rooney and the Knights of The Realm-elect need to look out for?
Landon Donavan at the moment is the golden boy of US football, and fresh from a field trip into the minds of the English, he is fairly well equipped to make his mark on the English. Team mates such as Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley all have the minerals to cause problems.
Capello has brought in Beckham with his knowledge of the US game, but then the US squad has no fewer than 9 players with the experience of the English leagues.
An intriguing contest surely ensues. Enjoy the spectacle and may the best team win.
Their opponents, a side made up of high school teachers, mail delivery men and guys who simply washed up in their spare time. This was totally a David v Goliath situation.
The world expected England to walk all over the USA. This was their sport, the Americans had Baseball, their very own Yankees were again walking to another World Series. The Cold War was kicking in, and football, or soccer as they liked to call it was simply not important.
What followed was a shock, a disaster, it didn't happen. Illustrated perfectly by Wilf Mannion,
"Bloody ridiculous. Can't we play them again tomorrow?"
Fortunately England picked themselves up in 1966 and strolled home with the trophy, then lost it before a dog called Pickles found it again.
Since then? Well England have seen the door, but not quite reached it to knock on it again. The US? well football vanished for a fair few years, briefly raising interest during the 70s and the infamous NASL - which served as the retirement home for players such as George Best, Pele, Beckanbauer and Sam Allardyce (oh yes).
In 1994 the USA were given the privilege of hosting the tournament, but this had clearly nothing to do with the game, and more to do with the commercial viability of the project, and this was not helped by Diana Ross's inability to score from 4 yards out. Also worth noting this was a World Cup that England failed to qualify for and was as such rubbed out of memory for many stalwarts of the 3 lions.
What followed the 1994 World Cup for England was pretty much similar to what proceeded it, and now we find the golden era in the last chance saloon, ran by an Italian general who prefers tanga briefs over boxers.
The USA however have seen a massive resurgence in quality, the Premier League especially has seen rise to players like Clint Dempsey, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, loads more keepers including are own Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Brad Friedel and the main man Joe Max Moore.
In 2002 Uncle Sam actually reached the Quarter Finals, and it was safe to say they were a threat to the rest of the world, and finally we took notice of these upstarts, and the natives finally understood why nobody was padded up to the eyeballs and not using their hands in the penalty area.
So now we approach the 2010 World Cup, England face The United States of America. It's the Empire vs the Colony. Stars and Stripes vs Three Lions. Who will win?
England have suffered with the loss of Rio Ferdinand on the eve of the competition, and the hopes of the nation lie with a young lad from Croxteth.
Who stands in his way? A player whom he does look out for when he's not slamming 30 yard volleys past unsuspecting keepers. So who else does Rooney and the Knights of The Realm-elect need to look out for?
Landon Donavan at the moment is the golden boy of US football, and fresh from a field trip into the minds of the English, he is fairly well equipped to make his mark on the English. Team mates such as Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley all have the minerals to cause problems.
Capello has brought in Beckham with his knowledge of the US game, but then the US squad has no fewer than 9 players with the experience of the English leagues.
An intriguing contest surely ensues. Enjoy the spectacle and may the best team win.
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Seriously, well done Ghost... 
