Bornstein not running scared
Friday, 11 June, 2010
USA defender insists his side will be more than ready for England.
USA defender Jonathan Bornstein insists they are not running scared of England and are determined to cause a major upset in their opening group game against The Three Lions on Saturday.
Bornstein is relishing the chance to take on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and says his team-mates are brimming with confidence as they prepare for the start of the World Cup.
England are the strong favourites to win Group C, but the USA will also fancy their chances of finishing above Algeria and Slovenia and progressing into the knock-out stages.
The 25-year-old believes his side can pile more pressure on England if they manage a victory on Saturday night and feels the experience of his team-mates who are playing in Europe will stand them in good stead when they face Fabio Capello's side.
Bornstein, who stars for Chivas USA in the American MLS, said: "We can win the match. We are a good team who have, in glimpses, really shown what we are capable of.
"Our own threat is substantial; we've had the benefit of our guys playing in Europe. Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and Mark Bradley have adapted really well to Europe.
"We are a quicker team than in the past, we have moved into the modern era, and the players we produce at home are influenced by the European game where pace and power is everything. US players have shown they can do well in Europe.
"Playing England first means we have to be at the highest level throughout our preparation and we will know how close we are to hitting our form right at the start.
"We can then take that benchmark into the Algeria and Slovenia games."