AMERICANS in Oxford will be cheering on their team tonight at pubs and bars around the city.

While the majority of football fans in the city will be piling into pubs to support Fabio Capello’s men, some will be rooting for their opponents.

The United States are likely to give England their toughest game in Group C, and American supporters in Oxford are hoping their team can steal a victory once the game kicks off at 7.30pm.

David Imbert, 27, a postgraduate studying environmental change at Oxford University’s Trinity College, said: “A big group of us will be meeting up to watch the match at one of the bars in George Street.

“The USA will definitely give England a tough game and I think they could surprise a few people.

“There are hundreds of American postgraduates in Oxford, including Rhodes scholars, and they will all be rooting for the USA.

“I’m sure there will be some good-natured banter with the England fans. I grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, and soccer was the number one game when I was growing up.

“I would love it if the USA gets beyond the group stage and I will feel quite bitter if England beat us, although I do feel quite at home here in Oxford because there are so many Americans around.

“I lived in Italy for a year, so I suppose I will be supporting England or Italy if the USA do get knocked out.”

On Wednesday, Mr Imbert and fellow postgraduates were reminded of their country’s fighting spirit when they visited the Oxford Union to hear a talk by General David Petraeus, head of US Central Command.

Roni Yadlin, 23, who is studying for an MSc in engineering at Exeter College, is from southern California.

She added: “I play for Oxford University women’s first team and I have been playing soccer since I was 12.

“I have scored a few goals in my time and I’m really looking forward to this game.

“I think the game will be tight and English experience might win through in the end.”

Midfielder Landon Donovan, who has played for Everton and is the USA’s top goal scorer with 42 goals, is confident the USA can embarrass England in Rustenburg and bring back memories of the team’s infamous 1-0 win in the 1950 World Cup.

The 28-year-old has banned LA Galaxy team-mate David Beckham from contacting him during the tournament.

Beckham cannot play for England because of injury but is in South Africa to work alongside Capello’s coaching staff.