US star Donovan can´t wait to face Ashley Cole

US playmaker Landon Donovan said Wednesday he could hardly wait to do battle with England left-back Ashley Cole in the countries’ World Cup opener on Saturday.

Donovan, who impressed during a three-month loan at English Premier League side Everton this year, said the Americans will not make the mistake of under-estimating England – especially Cole, whom he rates one of the world’s best in his position.

“England are one of the top teams in the world. It would be hard to point at their team and find a lot of weakness,” Donovan said.

“Ashley Cole is a fantastic player, one of the two or three top left backs in the world. He’s going to be a very good player for them.”

Donovan, a clubmate of England’s injured David Beckham at LA Galaxy, displayed a calm confidence Wednesday, experience having hardened him after an exhilarating 2002 run to the quarter-finals and a first-round flop four years ago.

“I’m prepared,” said the 28-year-old widely considered the greatest US player of all time.

“I know the qualities I have as a player, an athlete and a person. I’m prepared for this moment. I wasn’t prepared in 2006.

“When you are this prepared you don’t worry, ‘Is it going to go right?’ I know I’m going to play well on Saturday.

“I’m striving to play completely from my heart with a little mixture of keeping my mind in the right place so I don’t do something stupid.”

He said he was heartened by last year’s US run to the final of the Confederations Cup final in South Africa, the event which serves as a World Cup warm-up.

“Last year was important because it gave us confidence that we could do something special here,” Donovan said. “Now we know we can do something special and we have to bring that out every time we play.”

Donovan revealed that with just three days to go before facing England in the Group C game in Rustenburg, the US squad has plenty of issues still to be decided.

“There is still a lot to be determined as far as who is playing, where people are playing,” he said.

“There are a lot of battles going on, but we are all excited for Saturday.”

US coach Bob Bradley said he typically starts a week with an idea of his first 11, then listens to his assistants and players before deciding a final lineup.

“You keep alive different possibilities, different discussions. I take in some of the opinions and ultimately make a decision,” Bradley said.

“We understand when we play as a team and we’re committed, we can play with anybody.”

Adding to his choices in the front line are the solid play of Jozy Altidore — another player who will know his English opponents well having spent last season in the Premier League with Hull — Robbie Findley and Edson Buddle.

Bradley can also use veterans Donovan and Clint Dempsey on either side of the midfield or in the forward line.

“Landon and Clint are both important attacking players for us,” Bradley said. “That’s something that allows us to have some tactical flexibility and something we’re able to use at times to help us.”