Neville has USA warning for England

February 26, 2010

Everton skipper Phil Neville has warned England to beware their Group C rivals USA at the World Cup. Neville has been highly impressed with Toffees’ American duo Tim Howard and Landon Donovan at Goodison Park this term and believes England will be in for a tough time in their first group game in South Africa.

The 33-year-old revealed how USA coach Bob Bradley recently attended an Everton training session. He said: “A week last Friday, the American manager was in watching us train and we had a lot of banter with him.

“Obviously the American lads were playing it down a little bit but the rest were giving me pelters saying that Fabio Capello was coming in next week to watch us train. It was good-natured banter which is what football’s all about.

“If the two boys we’ve got here are the benchmark of the quality in the squad, then the US are going to have a very strong side in South Africa, so England had better
beware.

“Tim’s been consistently one of the best keepers in the Premiership and Landon over the last two months has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water.

“You’d think coming from the MLS it would take him time to settle in but he’s been fantastic. The last two games have probably been his biggest tests playing against
top quality full-backs and he’s been outstanding for us.”

Neville, who missed out on a place in the England squad for the 2006 World Cup, has 59 full caps but he is unlikely to add to those in the summer even with Ashley Cole currently injured and Wayne Bridge making himself unavailable. Neville’s Everton team-mate Leighton Baines is in contention though and could get a run-out in England’s Wembley friendly with Egypt next week.

Anyone who wants to place a World Cup 2010 bet on USA beating England can get odds of around 5/1.

Meanwhile, pundits are keeping an eye on the Cheltenham Festival weather. Too much rain could make the ground unsuitable for Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star.

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