Group C of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 12 June and ended on 23 June 2010. The group consisted of national association football teams from England, the United States, Algeria and Slovenia. The United States and England progressed to the round of 16 undefeated. The United States won the group, winning one match and drawing two. England had an identical record and goal difference but the United States finished top having scored more goals than England. Slovenia finished the group third having won a game, with Algeria finishing fourth with a single point.

Only England and the United States had previously met at a World Cup in 1950, when the United States defeated England 1–0.

Teams The teams were decided by World Cup draw that took place on 4 December 2009. The group was set to receive one team from each pot, which sorted all World Cup teams by position on the FIFA World Rankings as of October 2009.

The first team drawn was England, which secured qualification as a pot one team by winning Group 6 of UEFA qualification. The United States finished top of the CONCACAF fourth round group. The pot 3 team was Algeria who qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 thanks to a one-off play-off win against Egypt. The play-off tie was played in Khartoum after the two sides finished level with each other in Group C. Post-match, a diplomatic spat occurred between the two nations with Egypt later threatening to quit international football for two years due to the alleged behaviour of Algerian fans. There were also violent demonstrations in Cairo near the Algerian embassy. The final team was Slovenia who finished second in Group 3 of UEFA qualification, two points behind Slovakia. In the subsequent play-offs, Slovenia defeated Russia in a two-legged tie to qualify for the finals.

England were considered favourites to win Group C. In a pre-tournament preview, The Guardian's Kevin McCarra analysed England's chances ahead of the tournament: "If Wayne Rooney stayed fit, if Steven Gerrard got his form back and if the centre-backs were in rude health, England would present a severe problem to most. Capello needs to refresh a dynamism that has waned. Semi-finalists." The Guardian previewed the US' chances: "The USA have been quietly optimistic about their chances of making a splash in South Africa ever since reaching the Confederations Cup final last year, where they lost to Brazil. They are confident of making it out of what is perceived to be a weak group and believe they can challenge England for first place."

+FIFA World Cup Group C draw Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2009 May 2010 B1 1 UEFA UEFA Group 6 winners 9 September 2009 13th 2006 Winners (1966) 7 8 B2 2 CONCACAF CONCACAF fourth round winners 10 October 2009 9th 2006 Third place (1930) 11 14 B3 3 CAF CAF third round Group C winners 18 November 2009 3rd 1986 Group stage (1982, 1986) 29 30 B4 4 UEFA UEFA play-off winners 18 November 2009 2nd 2002 Group stage (2002) 49 25 Notes

Standings

The United States advanced to play Ghana (runners-up of Group D) in the round of 16. England advanced to play Germany (winners of Group D) in the round of 16.

Matches Matches took place between 12 June and 23 June 2010. All times listed are local, UTC+2.

England vs United States The opening match of group C was contested between England and the United States. The two sides had previously played each other nine times with England winning on seven occasions and the United States on two. The teams had previously played each other once in the FIFA World Cup in 1950. The USA won 1–0 in one of the biggest World Cup shock results of all time.

England took an early lead, Emile Heskey played a through ball to Steven Gerrard who slid the ball under Tim Howard in the 4th minute. However, the Three Lions failed to build on their lead, with the U.S. having plenty of possession in the first half. The United States equalised in the 40th minute when a seemingly harmless pot shot by Clint Dempsey was mishandled by England goalkeeper Robert Green and rolled into the net. Early in the second half, Heskey was played through on goal but could only shoot straight at Tim Howard. After several missed half-chances from England, Jozy Altidore forced a save onto the post from Green, highlighting England's lack of pace in central defence. Post-match, the U.S.' manager Bob Bradley was full of praise for his team's performance.

GK 12Robert GreenRB 2 Glen JohnsonCB 6 John TerryCB 20Ledley King LB 3 Ashley ColeRM 7 Aaron LennonCM 8 Frank LampardCM 4 Steven Gerrard (c) LM 16James Milner SS 10Wayne RooneyCF 21Emile Heskey Substitutions:MF 17Shaun Wright-Phillips DF 18Jamie Carragher FW 9 Peter Crouch Manager: Fabio Capello GK 1 Tim HowardRB 6 Steve Cherundolo CB 15Jay DeMerit CB 5 Oguchi OnyewuLB 3 Carlos Bocanegra (c)RM 8 Clint DempseyCM 4 Michael BradleyCM 13Ricardo ClarkLM 10Landon DonovanCF 17Jozy Altidore CF 20Robbie Findley Substitutions:FW 14Edson Buddle MF 11Stuart Holden Manager:Bob Bradley Man of the Match: Tim Howard (United States)

Assistant referees: Altemir Hausmann (Brazil) Roberto Braatz (Brazil) Fourth official: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles) Fifth official: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)

Algeria vs Slovenia The following day, Algeria met Slovenia in Polokwane. There were few chances created throughout the first half. However, in the 72nd minute, Algeria's substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was dismissed for the accumulation of two yellow cards, the second being a handball. Seven minutes later, Slovenia's talisman Robert Koren scored the winning goal from 20 yards.

GK 16Faouzi ChaouchiRB 4 Antar Yahia (c)CB 2 Madjid BougherraCB 5 Rafik HallicheLB 3 Nadir BelhadjRM 8 Mehdi LacenCM 15Karim ZianiLM 19Hassan Yebda RW 21Foued Kadir LW 13Karim Matmour CF 11Rafik Djebbour Substitutions:FW 9 Abdelkader Ghezzal FW 10Rafik Saïfi MF 17Adlène Guedioura Manager:Rabah Saâdane GK 1 Samir HandanovićRB 2 Mišo BrečkoCB 4 Marko ŠulerCB 5 Boštjan CesarLB 13Bojan JokićRM 17Andraž KirmCM 8 Robert Koren (c)CM 18Aleksandar Radosavljević LM 10Valter Birsa SS 14Zlatko Dedić CF 11Milivoje NovakovićSubstitutions:FW 9 Zlatan Ljubijankić FW 7 Nejc Pečnik MF 20Andrej Komac Manager:Matjaž Kek

Man of the Match: Robert Koren (Slovenia)

Assistant referees: Leonel Leal (Costa Rica) Carlos Pastrana (Honduras) Fourth official: Peter O'Leary (New Zealand) Fifth official: Brent Best (New Zealand)

Slovenia vs United States In the second round of matches, Slovenia met the U.S. in Johannesburg. Slovenia went into half time with a 2–0 lead. Valter Birsa opened the scoring for Slovenia in an impressive fashion, collecting the ball from 25 yards out before curling the ball into the left-hand corner. After a dominant start from the Slovenians, the United States began to create some chances to equalise. However, on the counter-attack, Milivoje Novaković played a through ball to Zlatan Ljubijankić who managed to slot the ball under Tim Howard for their second goal. In response, the U.S.' manager made a double substitution at half time. In the opening stages of the second half, the United States halved the deficit via Landon Donovan after Boštjan Cesar had missed the flight of a long ball; Donovan then managed to collect the ball and hit his shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle. With eight minutes remaining, a long ball for the U.S. was knocked down by Joze Altidore to the oncoming Michael Bradley who finished past Samir Handanović on the half-volley to equalise the match at 2–2. The United States had looked as if they had won the match after a Donovan free-kick was turned in by Maurice Edu. However, the referee controversially disallowed the goal. Post-match, Bob Bradley said that he had no doubt that the referee had got the decision wrong.

GK 1 Samir HandanovićRB 2 Mišo BrečkoCB 4 Marko Šuler CB 5 Boštjan Cesar LB 13Bojan Jokić CM 8 Robert Koren (c)CM 18Aleksandar RadosavljevićRW 10Valter Birsa LW 17Andraž Kirm CF 9 Zlatan Ljubijankić CF 11Milivoje NovakovićSubstitutions:FW 7 Nejc Pečnik FW 14Zlatko Dedić MF 20Andrej Komac Manager:Matjaž Kek GK 1 Tim HowardRB 6 Steve CherundoloCB 15Jay DeMeritCB 5 Oguchi Onyewu LB 3 Carlos Bocanegra (c)RM 10Landon DonovanCM 16José Francisco Torres CM 4 Michael BradleyLM 8 Clint DempseyCF 17Jozy AltidoreCF 20Robbie Findley Substitutions:MF 22Benny Feilhaber MF 19Maurice Edu FW 9 Herculez Gomez Manager:Bob Bradley

Man of the Match: Landon Donovan (United States)

Assistant referees: Redouane Achik (Morocco) Inácio Cândido (Angola) Fourth official: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia) Fifth official: Jeffrey Goh Gek Pheng (Singapore)

England vs Algeria Prior to the match, England manager Fabio Capello took the decision to drop goalkeeper Rob Green following his high-profile error against the United States, replacing him with David James. Algeria also opted to change their goalkeeper with Raïs M'Bolhi replacing Faouzi Chaouchi.

The match finished goalless after few chances were created by either side and with Algeria often seeming more comfortable in possession. As England left the pitch, Wayne Rooney was heard on camera saying "Nice to see your own fans booing you." which he later apologised for. Writing for Sky Sports, James Dall described England's performance as unimaginative and nervy.

GK 1 David JamesRB 2 Glen JohnsonCB 18Jamie Carragher CB 6 John TerryLB 3 Ashley ColeRM 7 Aaron Lennon CM 14Gareth Barry CM 8 Frank LampardLM 4 Steven Gerrard (c)SS 10Wayne RooneyCF 21Emile Heskey Substitutions:MF 17Shaun Wright-Phillips FW 19Jermain Defoe FW 9 Peter Crouch Manager: Fabio Capello GK 23Raïs M'BolhiCB 2 Madjid BougherraCB 5 Rafik HallicheCB 4 Antar Yahia (c)RM 21Foued KadirCM 19Hassan Yebda CM 8 Mehdi Lacen LM 3 Nadir BelhadjAM 7 Ryad Boudebouz AM 15Karim Ziani CF 13Karim MatmourSubstitutions:MF 22Djamel Abdoun MF 17Adlène Guedioura DF 20Djamel Mesbah Manager:Rabah Saâdane

Man of the Match: Ashley Cole (England)

Assistant referees: Rafael Ilyasov (Uzbekistan) Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan) Fourth official: Michael Hester (New Zealand) Fifth official: Jan Hendrik Hintz (New Zealand)

Slovenia vs England Jermain Defoe's 23rd-minute goal allowed England to claim the win and progress to the knockout stage of the competition. After the goal, England created several more chances but were unable to add to their lead.

GK 1 Samir HandanovićRB 2 Mišo BrečkoCB 4 Marko ŠulerCB 5 Boštjan CesarLB 13Bojan Jokić CM 8 Robert Koren (c)CM 18Aleksandar RadosavljevićRW 10Valter Birsa LW 17Andraž Kirm CF 9 Zlatan Ljubijankić CF 11Milivoje NovakovićSubstitutions:FW 14Zlatko Dedić FW 23Tim Matavž Manager:Matjaž Kek GK 1 David JamesRB 2 Glen Johnson CB 15Matthew UpsonCB 6 John TerryLB 3 Ashley ColeRM 4 Steven Gerrard (c)CM 8 Frank LampardCM 14Gareth BarryLM 16James MilnerSS 19Jermain Defoe CF 10Wayne Rooney Substitutions:MF 11Joe Cole FW 21Emile Heskey Manager: Fabio Capello Man of the Match: James Milner (England)

Assistant referees: Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany) Mike Pickel (Germany) Fourth official: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador) Fifth official: William Torres (El Salvador)

United States vs Algeria