Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has his sights set firmly on a starting role for the national side at the World Cup this summer.
 
The centre-half has been a regular fixture in Fabio Capello’s England squads but has found securing a starting role a difficult task, with Rio Ferdinand and John Terry standing in his way of a place in the heart of the England defence.
 
However, Lescott is left-footed and has played at left-back during his time at Everton.  This could hand him the opportunity to stake his claim for the left full-back role, wit

Sometimes England aren’t the luckiest of sides.

Firstly, there was the John Terry-Wayne Bridge scenario, which threatened to tear the team apart. Bridge’s subsequent withdrawal from the England reckoning and Terry’s demotion from captain has only left more questions unanswered. The Egypt game was meant to resolve some of those doubts but with new captain Rio Ferdinand missing the game through injury, there are still major issues that are causing concern.

The Three Lions bounced back from the controversy with a spirited win against Egypt.

Dani Alves has been talking up Brazil’s chances of winning the World Cup, claiming that they were ‘almost invincible’ in their 2-0 win against Ireland. However, despite the impressive performance, the bookies are still not completely convinced, keeping them 5/1 second favourites behind Spain.

“When Brazil play like they did in the last 20 minutes against Ireland, we are almost invincible,” said Alves.

“The truth is when we succeed playing the ball, which is what makes everyone of us happy, in the end we enjoy it so much.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes Adam Johnson shouldn’t go to the World Cup despite England’s current right-wing crisis.

With David Beckham ruled out of the tournament with a ruptured Achilles tendon and Aaron Lennon struggling with a groin injury there looks to be a spot open in Fabio Capello’s starting line-up.

Theo Walcott, James Milner and Shaun Wright-Phillips could all play on the right of midfield but following his goal against Sunderland on Sunday Johnson has now thrown his hat into the ring.

Fabio Capello believes the injury to David Beckham is a ‘big blow’ to England’s World Cup hopes with the former skipper ruled out of the tournament.

The 34-year-old tore his Achilles tendon playing for AC Milan on Sunday night and will now have to undergo an operation in order to correct the problem.

The former Manchester United midfielder will miss at least four months recovering from the injury, meaning he will be unavailable for England’s World Cup campaign.

Phil Brown has said he is ‘extremely sad’ to be leaving Hull City after he was relieved of his managerial duties by the Tigers board.

Hull have been battling against relegation all season and with nine games to go currently find themselves one from bottom and three points from safety after Saturday’s defeat to Arsenal.

Brian Horton and Steve Parkin have now been placed in charge temporarily and look set to lead the side into Saturday’s crucial six pointer against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Many England fans see the game against the USA as being the decider of Group C.

And make no mistake – England need to win the group otherwise they are likely to face a battle against bogey-men Germany in the last-16 And who would bet against more penalty heart-ache against the twelve-yard kings? (The odds are currently 9/2 for such an eventuality).

There is history between the two sides. In 1950, the Americans knocked an England side that contained such greats as Wilf Mannion, Alf Ramsey and Tom Finney out of the World Cup.

Ghana are hoping to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at this year’s World Cup. Six weeks after their disappointment in the African Cup of Nations – in which they lost in the Final to Egypt – coach Milovan Rajevac is determined to mould his side into a strong defensive unit and bounce back.

The Black Stars are one of six African sides that are hoping to use home continent advantage to improve their chances of success.

Many believe that the form of inspirational captain Marek Hamsik will be crucial if Slovakia are to qualify from a tricky Group F of the World Cup. This is their first ever trip to a World Cup Finals and very much a step into the unknown for the small landlocked European nation.

They are currently 6/1 third favourites behind Italy (4/9) and Paraguay (3/1). With outsiders New Zealand making up the group, you feel that the Paraguay v Slovakia game will be crucial in deciding the second team to qualify.

New Zealand are one of the rank outsiders for the World Cup, second only to North Korea in the betting. At 750/1 and in a tricky group that contains Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay, it is fair to say that the Oceanic side will have to have a lot of luck in order to progress.

Uruguay are one of the unlikeliest countries to have an illustrious football history.

The small country sitting on the River Plate have won the FIFA World Cup not once, but twice, and La Celeste boss Oscar ‘El Maestro’ Tabarez is determined to foster a link between his present-day side and the Uruguayan heroes of yesteryear.

Drawn in a group with France, Mexico and South Africa, Uruguay are 80/1 to win the tournament outright, tied in the betting with Cameroon and Denmark.