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One of the biggest upsets in World Cup history occurred back in
1950 in Brazil when an American team, comprising of amateurs and part-time
footballers, defeated England 1-0 to send them packing from the tournament.

The Americans will be hoping to repeat that feat on Saturday in
Rustenburg against an England team desperate to add another World Cup title to
the one they achieved on home soil back in 1966. It must be noted however that
the Three Lions have only advanced beyond the quarter finals once since 1966,
but they will come into the game with a team built around players plying their
trade in the English Premier League, most notably Wayne Rooney who they will be
depending upon to score the goals that could possibly lead them to glory.

Operation get Rooney

Rooney is however also renowned for his fiery temper and has
been booked on a number of occasions for taking matters into his own hands, but
US coach Bob Bradley insists his side will not make the Manchester United star
a target on Saturday.

“I get asked that question about Wayne Rooney all the time,”
Bradley said in a report published in English newspaper, The Sun. “But I have
tremendous respect for Rooney and what he brings to England; his effort, his
competitiveness and his movement. His influence on that team is great and he is
such a strong character. So yes, we are very aware of him and understand that
at this level we must compete. But wind him up, target him, foul him, provoke
him? No, we don’t enter into any of that.”

Rooney will no doubt be key to England’s World Cup campaign, and
Capello, who revealed on Thursday that he already has his starting line-up for
Saturday’s match, said Rooney had been banging in the goals and looking
extremely sharp in training.