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We will try to wind Rooney up - US defender DeMerit

Jay Demerit had a six-year spell at Watford © Getty Images

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Jay DeMerit is adamant that USA have nothing to fear as they prepare to face England, although the team will be paying particular attention to Wayne Rooney on Saturday.

Group C opens in intriguing fashion with the game between USA and England as the two countries meet in the World Cup for the first time since 1950 when a goal from Joe Gaetjens condemned England to a shock 1-0 defeat.

England are once again viewed as favourites for the game in Rustenburg and have been tipped by many as potential winners of the competition, but DeMerit, who has played for English club Watford for six years, says Bob Bradley's side are high on confidence.

"The advantage we have is that we have played against most of the England guys before many times, so there is no intimidation factor," DeMerit said. "We respect England's reputations but of course we would love to bring them down a little.

"We know what world class players they have up front. We have to learn how to nullify it. If it is Peter Crouch everything in the air will be tough to win, so we have to get the bits and pieces.

"Rooney will be trying to get in behind and he is very sharp. If we can match him for speed and pick up things in behind us we can make it hard for them. We know what they are capable of and we are prepared. There is no point coming to the World Cup unless you go in with an attitude like that."

Rooney is undoubtedly England's prime attacking talent and while his temperament has improved markedly in recent seasons, DeMerit still feels the Manchester United striker may be susceptible to provocation.

"The team know that you try to wind Rooney up," DeMerit said. "But it's not as easy to as people think it is. He is learning to deal with it. But it's not just Rooney, we have to make everybody's day difficult.

"I'm sure I will have a week of Wayne Rooney this and that. How to stop him? Yeah, good question. I have thought about playing him and I've been fortunate enough to play against Rooney a few times, so it's not a brand new thing for me."

England have also been warned by Slovenia captain Robert Koren that they can anticipate a tricky encounter when the sides meet on June 23.

"We're not afraid of England, we're not afraid of anyone,'' the Slovenia captain said in The Sun. "People say England will have an easy game against us but you just wait and see.

"Our display last year at Wembley, when we lost 2-1, showed what we are all about. We're not scared, no way.''

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