Final Score - WC2010 Group C, Slovenia vs England

Wednesday 23rd June 2010 - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth - Att. 36,893
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

LINEUPS:
Slovenia (442): Handanovic, Brecko, Jokic, Suler (Dzinic 45'), Cesar, Stevanovic, Koren (Krhin 71'), Birsa, Ljubijankic, Novakovic, Kirm
England (442): James, Johnson (Carragher 62'), Cole, Terry (King 51'), Upson, Barry, Lampard, Milner, Rooney (Carrick 79'), Defoe, Gerrard

England started out well in a very eventful opening half when Steven Gerrard, on his way to a second Man of the Match performance in the tournament, opened the scoring in the third minute of play when he got on the end of a Defoe cross. Jermaine Defoe was a constant bother for Slovenia, who started without the suspended Radosavijevic with Stevanovic taking his place, without getting on the scoresheet himself.

The second goal came from an unlikely source in an even more unlikely fashion. Matthew Upson collected the ball well outside of the area and sent a rocket into the back of the net from distance at an angle in the 17th minute. Five minutes later and the mood of the match changed when Millvoje Novakovic beat one man before a bad challenge put him on the ground and Ashley Cole heading for an early bath. But while Slovenia were seeking to break down the ten men of England a thunderous free kick by Frank Lampard made it 3-0 before the leaders stifled the remaining half.

The second half was all Slovenian pressure and this led to an early penalty to get them back into the game. Lampard fouled Andraz Kirm just inside the box, earning both a booking for some afters, and Kirm held his nerve to pull one back. The heat was still on the shorthanded England team, especially when John Terry was subbed from the game with a slight knock, but their opponents wasted chance after chance. Kirm shot over and Ljubijankic had two bites at the cherry; his first was bravely blocked and the rebound deflected to the waiting arms of David James.

Slovenia 1 - 3 England
Goalscorers:
ENG Gerrard 3'
ENG Upson 17'
ENG Lampard 34'
SVN Kirm 48'

Discipline:
ENG Johnson 15'
ENG Cole 22' (off)
SVN Jokic 34'
ENG Lampard 47'
SVN Kirm 47'
SVN Stevanovic 60'

Man of the Match:
ENG Steven Gerrard

GROUP C
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	3	3	0	0	6	2	+4	9
United States	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	3
Algeria	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	3
Slovenia	3	0	0	3	1	5	-4	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group C, Slovenia vs USA

Friday 18th June 2010,  Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg - Att. 45,573
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)

LINEUPS
Slovenia (442): Handanovic, Brecko, Jokic (Illic 75'), Suler, Cesar, Radosavijevic, Koren, Birsa, Ljubijankic (Pecnik 85'), Novakovic, Kirm (Stevanovic 58')
USA (442): Howard, Cherundolo, Bocanegra, Demerit, Onyewu (Torres 61'), Bradley, Edu, Donovan, Altidore, Findley (Spector 85'), Dempsey (Gomez 65')

The two qualifying places are still all to play for after this physical affair that saw a player from each side receive their marching orders from Mr Coulibaly. The Americans were good for their win as they stifled the Slovenian attacks but Zlatan Ljubijankic was hardest to contain. His second half cross for Novakovic was headed wide, and his own first half effort was just wide of the post.

The United States had much of the play throughout and should have perhaps won by more than the single Donovan goal when, prior to the breakthrough late in the half, Altidore, Edu, and the goalscorer himself were denied by Handonovic.

The game turned into a defensive battle after the interval with very few chances for both teams, even when both sides were down to ten men creating a little more space on the park. Both Radosavijevic and Bocanegra will be suspended for the final group matches after they picked up a pair of yellow cards either side of halftime.

Slovenia 0 - 1 USA
Goalscorers:
USA Donovan 41'

Discipline:
USA Findley 14'
SVN Radosavijevic 35'
USA Bocanegra 38'
SVN Radosavijevic 57' (Off)
USA Bocanegra 66' (Off)
USA Cherundolo 90'

Man of the Match:
USA Michael Bradley

GROUP C
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	3
Algeria	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
United States	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	3
Slovenia	2	0	0	2	0	2	-2	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group C, Algeria vs Slovenia

Sunday 13th June 2010 - Pete Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane. Att: 30,325
Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

LINEUPS:
Algeria (433): Bohil, Yahia, Bougherra, Halliche, Lacen, Yebda, Kadir, Belhadj, Djebbour (Medjani (85'), Ziani (Mansouri 70'), Matmour (Saifi 62')
Slovenia (442): Handanovic, Brecko, Jokic, Suler, Cesar, Radosavijevic, Koren, Birsa (Komac 71'), Ljubijankic (Dedic 59'), Novakovic, Kirm (Pecnik 79')

This match lived up to it's billing and failed to generate much excitement out of the 30,000+ crowd. Bohil would have very little to do in his goal and his opposite number Handanovic was beaten minutes before the interval when Yahia crossed it neatly for Belhadj.

Both nations had good defensive setups for the match, cancelling out the already limited offensive ideas and the game become a battle for supremacy in the middle of the park. The best chances for Slovenia came early in both halves. Jokic sent his 8th minute header way wide of goal and a direct free kick in a good position was smashed into the wall twelve minutes after the restart. Djebbour came close to adding a second for Algeria in the 73rd minute but his hard drive was saved well.

Algeria 1 - 0 Slovenia
Goalscorers:
ALG Belhadj 41'

Discipline:
ALG Kadir 32'
ALG Halliche 36'
SVN Cesar 54'
ALG Djebbour 78'

Man of the Match:
ALG Rafik Halliche

GROUP C
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	3
Algeria	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
Slovenia	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0
United States	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0