Latest Group C news ahead of the World Cup in South Africa which starts on June 11.UNITED STATESThe 30-man U.S squad started their training camp in earnest on Monday with striker Eddie Johnson arriving from club action in Greece with a hamstring injury which medical staff will evaluate 'day to day'.The U.S have set up camp at Princeton University in New Jersey, a familiar environment for coach Bob Bradley who played for Princeton and then was coach of their team for 11 years until 1995.Bradley's team will face the Czech Republic in East Hartford on May 25 and then four days later they take on Turkey in Philadelphia before heading out to South Africa. On June 5, the U.S are in action in Roodepoort against Australia - exactly one week before their World Cup opener against England in Rustenburg.SLOVENIAMidfielder Andraz Kirm's first season at Wisla Krakow ended in disappointment after they lost the Polish league title on the final day of the season with a 1-1 home draw against relegated Odra Wodzislaw.But Kirm, who played in all 30 league matches for his club and started 22 of them, is almost assured of a place in Slovenia's starting line-up in the World Cup after showing good form in the qualifiers.Goalkeeping may be an issue for the Slovenians though after Jasmin Handanovic, a cousin and understudy of first-choice 'keeper Samir Handanovic, was left out of Mantova's 2-2 draw at Crotone in the Italian second division.ALGERIAAll players who competed for Algeria in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers but who do not make the final 23-man squad will be invited to South Africa anyway, coach Rabah Saadane said.The Algerian football federation will pay the travel costs of the group, he told Algerian radio."Our qualification for the World Cup was thanks to the efforts of many players who gave their all in national colours," he said. "We want to acknowledge the efforts of those who played a part if they cannot be part of our squad."ENGLANDDavid James picked the ideal time and place to deliver one of his best performances of the season as a fantastic display in front of manager Fabio Capello in Saturday's FA Cup final probably secured him the number one goalkeeping slot for the World Cup.After a season dogged by injury James, who turns 40 three weeks after the tournament, made some sensational saves to keep Portsmouth in the game before finally being beaten by Didier Drogba's free kick which secured Chelsea a 1-0 win.James was named alongside Robert Green and Joe Hart in the provisional squad last week and Capello said at the time he still had not made up his mind about which of them would be first choice.Another, less satisfying, aspect of the final for Capello was the appalling state of the relaid Wembley pitch. Chelsea skipper John Terry said it was the worst surface he had played on all season and it is unlikely to be much better by the time England play a friendly there against Mexico on May 24.(Editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)News posted by www.newsinfoline.com
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