When the FIFA World Cup Finals draw took place in South Africa in early December 2009 there was a collective sigh of relief from England football fans, which soon turned to a joyful optimism that 2010 could finally be the year that their team brought home the FIFA World Cup trophy.

The three other teams selected to compete against England in Group C of the FIFA World Cup 2010 proved not to be as strong as they could have been, with the Three Lions managing to avoid being drawn against either Portugal or France, and many other teams that would have provided stronger opposition.

England will not have it all their own way, but this is such a comfortable draw that they should easily overcome the USA, Algeria and Solvenia to progress to the knock-out stages. Indeed the group has already been referred to as the ‘group of ease' in the tabloid's sport pages.

The FIFA World Cup Finals involving 32 teams kicks-off in South Africa on June 11, 2010 when the host nation takes on Mexico in the opening game. England's first game against the United States takes place a day later in Rustenburg. Games against Algeria on June 18 and Slovenia on June 23 will take be played in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, respectively.

England fans will certainly need to be prepared to travel many miles, preferably by air, as they follow their team in their quest to win the FIFA World Cup Finals for only the second time in the history of the tournament. Indeed, FIFA World Cup travel takes on a whole new meaning for England fans in South Africa, as the distances between venues are so immense. Travelling from the first venue of Rustenburg to Cape Town involves a journey of 884 miles and then travel onto Port Elizabeth is another 465 mile trek.

If England finish first in Group C, as widely predicted, then the team's second round knock-out game will take place back in Rustenburg on June 26, another 700 mile trek north. However, should they finish second then they will only have to travel a mere 413 miles to Bloemfontein play their first knock-out game a day later on June 27.

Should the Three Lions progress to the quarter-finals stage of the tournament it kicks-off on July 2, with the semis starting four days later; the final tie will be played at Soccer City in Johannesburg on July 11. If England go all the way their fans will have followed them for thousands of miles, but for them it will all be worth it to see John Terry lift the FIFA World Cup trophy in triumph.

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