Exclusive: Behind The Scenes at American and Italian World Cup Camps

THE countdown on FIFA.com is down to 36 days. They've removed their day-by-day rundown from the official site, so let's continue it here, with a sneak look at two of the World Cup bases.

In South Africa, where I'm based in the Highveld at Centurion between Johannesburg and Pretoria, we're into autumn. That means clear skies, the rains are receding... and the days are glorious.

Perhaps that's why the two local World Cup camps looked so bloody perfect today. The USA camp at Irene Country Lodge, about an hour from Oliver Tambo international airport, was first up.

A beautiful hotel with man-made lake - see the exclusive video athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OtSyTVjDOc, the place is ready, willing and waiting for the Americans to arrive. A low-slung, double-storey five-star complex, Irene boasts a posh al la carte restaurant inside and an outdoor eaterie with unbelievable African buffet.

Outside the rooms where Landon Donovan and company will stay, there's plenty of grass for a morning warm-up before you get to the lake, teeming with jumping carp and barbel, with an island 200 yards out complete with a faux African ruin.

But as in all South Africa venues, the staff are the stand-out feature. Wonderful, warm waiters, waitresses and receptionists clamour around and are more than willing to talk about the imminent arrival of "their" Americans.

Irene hosted the Italians during the Confederations Cup last year and the staff learned a few words of Italian but now the English-speaking Americans face a real African welcome. Amos, the head waiter, says: "The USA have a good chance of going far but Spain and Brazil are the favourites. England can never win it!"

About two miles up the road, Southdown College offers the training facilities - and according to one member of staff, the Italians have nabbed the two green, perfect pitches, leaving the Americans to use nearby Swartkop Hoer Skool's rugby pitch, where the Italians trained last year.

The Italians are based barely three miles away at Leriba Lodge. Again, this is a tranquil oasis of greenery amid suburban sprawl - Centurion has grown out of all recognition since I went to school there when it was called Verwoerdburg in the 1980s.

Leriba has a spa and wonderful gardens will lolloping rabbits. I tracked down a couple of staff, but they were sticking to the company line: "I think Italy have a good chance!" they grinned when asked about their World Cup favourites.

I have just uploaded a second video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spzCX3CXdYA of Leriba and their charming Hemingways Restaurant, complete with small, private dining rooms for the team and staff.

Though the traffic around the grounds has grown considerably in recent years, both Italy and the USA can be happy with the choice of their officials. They will be living in the lap of luxury, undisturbed by the general hustle and bustle of African life.

But neither of these grounds can compare with England's state-of-the-art facility at the Royal Marang Hotel. Fabio Capello's men have umpteen football pitches and artificial surfaces on offer, right on their doorstep.

And crucially, they are barely 5km from the Bafokeng Sports Palace stadium where they open Group A against the USA on June 11. The Americans will have to travel 60 miles to get there - and it's no doddle.

Advantage England then. But it's a very slight one.

I've been inundated with emails, facebook messages and twitters since my appearance with David O'Sullivan at 702 radio yesterday... also been on SABC Radio 2000 talking politics twice and Cape Talk reviewing the Americans.

It's hectic. Tomorrow I'm off to Indaba 2010 where I will also take in the vital Sharks v Stormers Super 15 rugby match at Kings Park.

Keep up with me on Twitter (nealcol) and www.nealcollins.co.uk.

The moment Ashley's World Cup was thrown into doubt... and according to The Sun he's in trouble off the park too

THIS was the moment the World Cup dream may have been shattered for Ashley Cole, ironically against Landon Donovan, the man he would have marked in England's opening game against the USA at Rustenburg on June 12.

Everton's on-loan Yank Donovan is blameless - he played the ball and Cole damaged his ankle in the 57th minute as Chelsea slid to a shock 2-1 defeat at Goodison on Tuesday night.

I broke the story that he was out for three weeks yesterday after scans, today comes news that the 29-year-old former Arsenal left-back is off for surgery on the injury.

His World Cup is now in serious doubt. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was the first to react, saying: "Ashley is probably the best left back in the world. He's got three months, let's hope he makes it for the World Cup."

With Wayne Bridge two games into his comeback from injury, City boss Roberto Mancini came out strongly this morning insisting he was the best in the position for England. He said: "Wayne is a big man. It's important for him to play in the World Cup, the first eleven for the national team.".

But of course that would put him alongside axed captain John Terry, disciplined by Capello for having an affair with the mother of Bridge's child, Vanessa Perroncel. When this all broke there was talk of Bridge wanting to give up international football. Not any more judging by Mancini's enthusiasm this morning.

And that's got the whole world talking. Everyone knows footballers have copious affairs - Ashley Cole himself is on the front of The Sun today over sending naked pictures of himself to some model or other - but what happens in the dressing room when this sort of situation crops up?

Will the England players be model professionals and ignore the obvious tensions for the sake of the nation? Will there be petty squabbling and nasty tackles at training?

Some of the Manchester City players wore Team Bridge t-shirts when the story broke a fortnight ago, while Chelsea players, who saw Bridge move to City a year ago, would line up for Team Terry.

And of course the big man himself, after a stinker in the Everton defeat where he allowed Louis Saha to score twice, is in Dubai for Valentine's Day with his wife and three-year-old twins for Valentine's Day. The club has given him permission to miss the weekend FA Cup clash against Cardiff to patch up his marriage.

Boss Carlo Ancelotti said today: "I'm very disappointed. Ashley is a very important player for me. I hope he will be quick to rest and he will come back before the end of the season. It is a realistic possibility. He will go surgery today.

"I think that in three months he will be ready for play, also for England. I think he can play in the World Cup."

And Terry? Ancelotti said: "He will be back for the next game against Wolves. I think he will come back strong and make a recovery." Terry and Bridge? "It's not my problem this."

Question is, will Capello avoid the issue and play Gareth Barry as his emergency left-back against Egypt on March 3? Or will he go for the regular understudy and call Bridge into the starting eleven?

Cole has been Capello's first choice at left-back, playing 16 times while Manchester City's Wayne Bridge has played nine, Joleon Lescott five and Aston Villa midfielder Barry three.

Me? I'd pick Bridge. Let him have it out with his former mate if necessary. Word is he hasn't been taking calls from Terry during the uncomfortable situation which has arisen in the last fortnight.

Bang their heads together, Fabio. This is England's year. An easy Group C, the Yanks, Slovenia and Algeria. Back to Rustenburg near the training ground for the first knock-out game if we win the group. And then it's the quarter-finals.

Even Sven Goran Eriksson got us that far on a regular basis. This is England's year. South Africa won't be too hot. And after three weeks of preparation at the best training facility in the country at the highest altitude available, nobody will be more ready.

As long as the off-field disputes are firmly thrust behind them.