We’ve got the spirit of 1950 on our side

BIGGEST WORLD CUP SHOCK BEL OF AN INSPIRATION FOR ZIMMERMAN AND US

DEFENDER Walker Zimmerman has warned England that the US will use the biggest shock in World Cup history as their inspiration tomorrow night.

The 1-0 win over a team that included Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Alf Ramsey and Billy Wright in Brazil 72 years ago is still regarded as the tournament’s greatest giantkilling, despite Saudi Arabia’s heroics against Argentina.

England’s only other World Cup meeting with the US, South Africa in 2010, also ended in frustration. Fabio Capello’s side went ahead early through Steven Gerrard but despite also having Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and John Terry in the lineup, they were held to a draw after Clint Dempsey (right) levelled.

And Zimmerman, who loves to listen to the music from Chariots of Fire before games to motivate himself, insists his team are never more dangerous than when they have been written off.

“I think that’s only fair for them to believe that they will win the group - but it doesn’t always work out according to form,” he said.

“We expect that from ourselves as well. So it’s gonna be a really entertaining group, with lots of match-ups to look forward to. And I don’t think it’s gonna be easy for anyone, to be honest. For sure, we can look on those two moments when the US has played England before at the World Cup. It adds to our competitive spirit.

“I think Americans really thrive on being the underdogs.

“We have a young team that has a lot of guys with very little World Cup experience.

“But we don’t see that as an obstacle, we see it as another challenge to be embraced.

“We will go into the game saying, ‘No one can handle our youth, they can’t handle our energy, they can’t handle our passion for the game’.

“And we can look on those two past results and say, ‘We’ve been the underdog before. No problem’.

“We’re ready to do that again if that’s how they want to view us.”

England opened their World Cup campaign by thrashing Iran 6-2 hours before the USA had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Wales, Gareth Bale equalising from the penalty spot after Zimmerman brought him down.

Back in 1950, Joe Gaetjens scored the goal (bottom, beating England keeper Bert Williams) in Belo Horizonte to shock the world. Born in Haiti, Gaetjens moved to the States to study accounting at Columbia University, but became the hero of a team that included a hearse driver, school teacher, postman and several dishwashers. Zimmerman, 29, who plays for Nashville in the MLS, has 34 caps and is looking forward to locking horns with Harry Kane.

He may even watch Chariots of Fire as part of his preparations. Zimmerman ( far left) said: “I watched that movie when I was a kid - and, you know, I still always watch it. Anytime I hear the music, it’s an inspiration.

“It’s a soundtrack that can kind of go on in the back of my head, the beginning of a game or something and gets me fired up a little bit.

“I think it’s gonna be physical with Kane, for sure. It’s two big guys, going at it, two ultra-competitive personalities who are not going to back down from each other.

“I know Kane is a super talent, who has had a tremendous career.

“But again, it’s something that’s a measuring stick for me and I’m certainly not gonna be backing down from it.”