Bristol City

The deal will keep the former Portsmouth captain at Ashton Gate for a year with an option for an additional 12 months.

Earlier in the week it looked as though the 39-year-old would be moving to Scottish giants Celtic when he was set to go up to Glasgow to discuss terms.

However he failed to agree terms with the club, who then decided to state that they were no longer interested in the keeper just hours before he was confirmed as signing for City (11/2 to win promotion from the Championship) on Friday.

James was also linked with Premier League side Sunderland but the type of deal the Robins offered and the proximity to where the former Liverpool player lives seems to have been the deciding factors for the move.

The veteran keeper revealed that he had offers from clubs in the top flight but decided to take up the challenge at Ashton Gate.

He said: “I’ve had offers to stay in the Premier League but it is more important that I play football – which I love – for the right club and be a family man.

“I had a long conversation with the chairman Steve Lansdown yesterday and I liked what he said about the club and his ambition. I know all about the plans for a new stadium and desire to win promotion to the Premier League.

“The club is ambitious and that’s what I am. The South West has not had a club in the Premier League and that needs to change,” he added.

James played in three of England’s four World Cup games in South Africa this summer as he battled for a starting place with Robert Green and Joe Hart.

After Green’s mistake in the opening game against the USA, which ultimately cost the Three Lions the win, James was brought in and performed well in the remaining group fixtures.

The player’s contract will begin on August 1 after he completed a medical at the club on Friday.

Bristol City begin there campaign to try and reach the top flight against newly promoted Millwall at Ashton Gate on August 7.

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Sunderland

Bruce’s first-choice, Craig Gordon, has been ruled out for the first three months of the season after breaking his arm in training, while back-up Marton Fulop is set to depart before the new campaign kicks off.

Gordon’s injury and Fulop’s departure will leave Bruce with just Northern Irishman Trevor Carson, 22, and Belgian stopper Simon Mignolet, 21, as cover and the Black Cats boss admits he is hesitant to throw either youngster in at the deep end.

Bruce has now confirmed he is keen to sign James as a solution to his keeper crisis.

“He’s still England’s number one goalkeeper. He’d be a good short term signing for us,” said Bruce.

“But what we have to decide now is to whether make a signing or whether the two young keepers that we have are ready for the Premier League.

“The Premier League is a very tough place and we’ll have to take some time to think about whether they’re ready for that.”

James’ future is yet to be resolved and the 39-year-old remains technically a free-agent because Portsmouth are unable to offer him a deal due to their financial problems.

However, it is thought Pompey are eager for the former Liverpool man to remain at Fratton Park next season, with some reports suggesting he will be offered a role as a player-coach in a bid to entice James to stick with the struggling south coast club (Portsmouth 18/1 – npower Championship outright).

If James does decide to seek a fresh challenge Sunderland may still be left frustrated as SPL giants Celtic are known admirers of the England international. Polish keeper Artur Boruc has now joined Fiorentina and the Parkhead side are on the lookout for a new custodian, with James believed to be their number one target.

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Sunderland

Bruce’s first-choice, Craig Gordon, has been ruled out for the first three months of the season after breaking his arm in training, while back-up Marton Fulop is set to depart before the new campaign kicks off.

Gordon’s injury and Fulop’s departure will leave Bruce with just Northern Irishman Trevor Carson, 22, and Belgian stopper Simon Mignolet, 21, as cover and the Black Cats boss admits he is hesitant to throw either youngster in at the deep end.

Bruce has now confirmed he is keen to sign James as a solution to his keeper crisis.

“He’s still England’s number one goalkeeper. He’d be a good short term signing for us,” said Bruce.

“But what we have to decide now is to whether make a signing or whether the two young keepers that we have are ready for the Premier League.

“The Premier League is a very tough place and we’ll have to take some time to think about whether they’re ready for that.”

James’ future is yet to be resolved and the 39-year-old remains technically a free-agent because Portsmouth are unable to offer him a deal due to their financial problems.

However, it is thought Pompey are eager for the former Liverpool man to remain at Fratton Park next season, with some reports suggesting he will be offered a role as a player-coach in a bid to entice James to stick with the struggling south coast club (Portsmouth 18/1 – npower Championship outright).

If James does decide to seek a fresh challenge Sunderland may still be left frustrated as SPL giants Celtic are known admirers of the England international. Polish keeper Artur Boruc has now joined Fiorentina and the Parkhead side are on the lookout for a new custodian, with James believed to be their number one target.

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England

The two sides face each other in Bloemfontein on Sunday with a place in the quarter finals up for grabs. Much has been spoken about in the press regarding the two sides’ previous meetings in major competitions but James says the squad are paying little attention to what’s being said in the media and focusing solely on the job at hand.

The goalkeeper told reporters: “It’s another football match, obviously there’ll be a lot of external references and whatever else, historical references. But for us it’s a game against a decent outfit – one we have to win to progress.”

England were disappointing in the group stages, drawing with both the USA and Algeria, but qualified for the last 16 thanks to a 1-0 victory against Slovenia and James is keen for the side to carry their form on.

“We can’t do anything about what happened,” he said. “We look back at the America game and the performance of Tim Howard which prevented a win.

“Algeria are very difficult to score against, and then we did what we needed to against Slovenia on Wednesday.”

However, the Three Lions were forced into second place in the group after Landon Donovon scored to fire the USA through as winners of Group C, leaving England to face Germany in what is possibly the pick of the second round ties. If England win the match they will go on to face a possibly even tougher test against the winner of the Argentina vs. Mexico match meaning they will have to win the tournament the hard way if they’re to lift their first trophy since 1966 (England 9/1 to win outright).

James started the World Cup as England’s second choice goalkeeper, despite being handed the number one shirt for the tournament,  but was given his chance after Robert Green’s blunder in the opening match against USA. James has looked solid on his return to the side and is keen to make the most of his opportunity after finally being given his chance at his third World Cup finals. James was an unused substitute in both Korea/ Japan 2002 and Germany 2006 and is yet to concede a goal during this tournament.

“When the squad was announced and the numbers issued it was more of a numerical thing than a suggestion of the first XI,” said the 39-year-old, the oldest player at the finals.

“True to Mr Capello’s previous selection process, he must have gauged something in training and felt Robert was the right goalkeeper to start with. I’m happy with that. I’m part of a squad. This World Cup isn’t about David James – it’s about England being successful. I trained as well as I could, got the chance to go back in and I’m happy.”

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David James

England put in an awful display during the 0-0 draw against Algeria on Friday night to leave many fans wondering what has happened to the team that qualified for the finals with ease.

Hopes and expectations were raised after the Three Lions qualified in style, but they looked a shadow of that side as they struggled to break down a resolute Algerian side.

Once again England’s top players who perform week in week out in the Premier and Champions League against the top players in Europe failed to show up.

They are supposed to be world class but they did not show that last night. It looked like they were playing with fear and with the weight of the nation on their shoulders and that would be a viable explanation.

Capello hinted as much after the game, but goalkeeper James is having none of it and says they just struggled to break down a side that set their stall out for the draw.

Well Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney come up against teams like that every week in the Premier League and do not seem to have a problem then.

“Did he?” retorted James when told Capello said they played with fear. “Arguably it is more frustration than fear. You are usually playing matches when the opposition wants to win. It is very difficult when you are up against a side who seem not to want to lose.

“You are trying to work out the way to unlock a defence. They did what they needed to do. It was very frustrating.”

It was also very frustrating to watch and the England fans who have spent their hard earned cash to travel out to South Africa will demand more against Slovenia or the boos will be ringing out again.

However James is confident there will be no repeat and says a win is on the cards.

“We are tight enough to recover and win this game,” he added. “I don’t have any doubts about that at all. The reality is if we get a good win on Wednesday we finish top of the group.

“Regardless of whether we win one and draw two or win all three, you are top, which is what our aim was. I have the utmost confidence in our squad.”

At this moment in time the fans don’t and it will take a big performance on Wednesday to get them back on side.

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Green of West Ham has come in for some heavy criticism since he dropped a clanger against USA last Saturday and whether he keeps his place in the side has been the main talking point in the build up to the game.

Capello is refusing to confirm who will take the number one jersey but there are strong reports suggesting that James, who has dropped a few howlers himself throughout his career, will get the nod.

The Portsmouth keeper was even nicknamed ‘Calamity James’ but Capello could be ready to throw him in against the Algerians, which will be a huge blow to Green.

“When I chose Green last week he was in good form,” said Capello in yesterday’s press conference. “He played very well in the first half of the friendly against Mexico. And even last week, the outcome was good for the team because usually you would lose the game after a mistake like that.

“But I have to choose the value of different players, not just think about their mistakes. I have to justify selecting the keeper I choose.”

Green’s confidence has no doubt taken a hammering and Capello must decide whether he is capable of keeping goal in another high-pressure game.

If he does keep faith and Green makes another mistake then he will be hammered by the media but who is to say James will not drop a clanger if he comes into the side?

If all goes to plan whoever plays is likely to have a quiet evening and it would be the prefect opportunity to help Green get his confidence back.

England are 8/15 to keep a clean sheet but it remains to be seen which keeper will be in the starting line up come 7.30pm in Cape Town.

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David James

Many had predicted that the Portsmouth shot-stopper would be Fabio Capello’s first choice at the World Cup because of his greater experience.

But the Italian decided to go with Robert Green against USA and the West Ham keeper was castigated for a calamitous error with led to America’s equaliser.

There had been suggestions that James was suffering with an injury and that’s why he played no part in Rustenburg, but the former Liverpool and Aston Villa man insists he is “fit and well”.

Reports have also claimed that the Pompey man had been unhappy at the way Capello delayed the decision to announce who would start between the posts and that he was left on the bench.

James has denied that though, saying: “I don’t have a problem with the selections. I am part of the squad.

“Rob hasn’t been on the losing side in a qualifying or competitive match. There are seven games and 23 players.”

Meanwhile, Green says the late team selection did not hamper his preparation for the 1-1 draw with the US.

Some pundits had claimed that Green was ill-prepared for the match, as he only found out that he was starting just two hours before kick-off.

But the Hammers custodian has rejected that his ‘late selection’ was an excuse for the error that cost the Three Lions (England 4/9 to win Group C) an opening game win.

Green stated: “Only knowing two hours before the game that you are playing is not a problem. You prepare as though you’re playing.

“If you don’t, that’s the mistake. The other guys prepared as though they were playing and we will again for Friday. You prepare for Friday as though you are playing again. It’s not a surprise when you are playing then.”

Green has called on Capello to give him a chance to redeem himself against Algeria, although the coach is expected to make a late decision once again.

Green added: “You want to be tested. Playing lovely football and making wonderful saves is not a challenge. This is a challenge and this is why you are a footballer.

“It’s how you bounce back from things like that.”

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The veteran is fighting it out with West Ham’s Robert Green and Manchester City’s Joe Hart for the honour, with the battle the closest in years as Capello keeps his cards close to his chest.

James, Green and Hart have all been given game time by the Italian ahead of the Group C opener against USA in Rustenburg on Saturday as he keeps everyone guessing and on their toes (England 4/9 to win – 90 Minutes).

And James insists he is paying little attention to the fact he has been handed the number one jersey with Green set to wear 12 and Hart 23.

The former Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester City man said: “I genuinely believe England are going to be successful, I want that above everything else. I want to be part of that success so I want to be number one.”

James added in the Daily Mirror: “A long time ago I stopped trying to second-guess people. I get stressed about Portsmouth losing and so I haven’t burdened myself with the extra stress of wondering what’s in the mind of Fabio Capello.

“I don’t think about the numerical position in the squad. It may be that the number one is the fittest and plays, but the idea is that all three are out there, trying their best to be the number one.”

Capello has included Joe Cole, Peter Crouch and Aaron Lennon in his ‘first XI’ in terms of numbers and it remains to be seen if the 63-year-old has shown his hand or not.

Cole, who will leave Chelsea this summer, admits he is desperate to start the tournament in England’s side.

He said: “It’s a great feeling being at a World Cup. I love coming away for these tournaments.

“I remember how excited I was for my first World Cup (in 2002). It was new and amazing. I still have that hunger and it would mean the world to me to play against America.

The main thing is that we get the result because the first game of the tournament is so important.”

Ahead of the game, USA coach Bob Bradley insists he has not formulated any rough-house tactics for Wayne Rooney whose temperament was again questioned following his yellow card against the Platinum Stars on Monday in the Three Lions’ final warm-up game (7/2 – Rooney to receive a red card during the tournament).

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David James

England last reached the semi-finals of the World Cup under the late great Sir Bobby Robson back in 1990 but fell foul of a penalty shoot-out, with Chris Waddle infamously blazing high over the bar from 12 yards to send West Germany into the final.

Six years later at Euro 96, Terry Venables’ vintage managed to beat Spain in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out but again Germany were too good from the spot in the last four, with Gareth Southgate this time the culprit.

The 1998 World Cup was another tale of woe as Paul Ince and David Batty both missed to hand Argentina a passage to the last four, while Portugal advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2004 after Darius Vassell failed to convert when the shoot-out had reached sudden death.

It was the same story at the 2006 World Cup as Cristiano Ronaldo netted to send England crashing out once again via the lottery of the spot kick.

Following the disappointment of every defeat by penalties the press question whether the players actually practice the art of scoring from the spot.

James, who may well have the job of trying to save penalties at some stage in South Africa, admitted that the current squad has been ordered to practice from 12 yards but he feels that it should not be overdone, for fear of affecting a player’s mindset when it comes to the real thing.

“People were always asking why England did not practice penalties more and, under Mr Capello, we have done,” he told The Sun. “If there’s the potential for penalty shoot-outs I’m 100 per cent confident everyone will be well versed.

“But it’s not always as simple as just spending hours practicing – that can complicate matters. If a penalty taker practices with the same keeper, the keeper starts reading and saving them.

“Then you’ve got your penalty taker developing a complex because he is not scoring them and your keeper is completely thrown when someone new takes a shot at him.”

There are a number of betting opportunities involving penalties for the World Cup, and England to exit the tournament on penalties can be backed at 3/1, while England to lose to Germany on penalties trades at 25/1.

England to lose the final on penalties is available at 33/1.

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