In case you have been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, the 2010 World Cup has been turned on its head by startling injury news coming out of yesterday's action in South Africa. As the United States prepares for its Group C showdown with England on June 12, it appears that England central defender Rio Ferdinand will also miss the World Cup. Ferdinand's absence is a huge blow for the Three Lions, as Tottenham Hotspur centre half Michael Dawson is preparing to depart London for Rustenburg to replace the Manchester United stalwart.

Upon hearing the news this morning at training, United forward Danny Allsopp told me some interesting information about Ferdinand's England replacement. Speaking about Dawson, Allsopp stated, "I played with [Michael] Dawson's brother Andy at Hull City in England. He was a good player, and so is Michael - he will do well if he gets a chance for England."

Indeed, Allsopp played alongside the elder Dawson on Humberside when the Australian joined Hull City in 2003. Allsopp played for the Tigers until 2005, while Andy Dawson is still a member of the recently relegated Premier League side. More interestingly, the Dawson connection does not end there for Allsopp. "I actually lived next to Michael Dawson in Nottingham when I was playing for Notts County and he was at Nottingham Forest, I guess it can be a pretty small world."

Allsopp featured 102 times for Notts County between 2000 and 2003, scoring 39 goals while playing for the Midlands club. Michael Dawson played for Nottingham Forest for four seasons before departing for North London. Dawson has gone on to be one of the top defenders in the Premier League and enjoyed a stellar 2009-2010 campaign for Spurs. England manager Fabio Capello may reward Dawson with a call-up against the United States on June 12 in the highly anticipated group stage affair.

The United States has one final tune-up against Allsopp's home nation tomorrow. Bob Bradley's men will take on Australia in a friendly at 8:30 a.m. local time in preparation for England in Roodepoort, South Africa. Allsopp has been capped by the Socceroos, and when asked about Saturday's match he states, "The U.S. is a good team, and I think Australia will provide a strong test for them. Tim Cahill is a world class player, and guys like Vince Grella and Harry Kewell are poven players as well."

Allsopp's thoughts on the United States' match against England? The striker was not willing to commit one way or the other just yet, but for all the talk of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard, the Aussie praised another English attacking player. "I made my only Premier League appearance for [Manchester] City on the same day that Shaun Wright-Phillips made his first Premier League start away to West Ham United."

Allsopp continues, "[Wright-Phillips] was nervous that day, but his quality was obvious. If he gets on for England he could be a difference maker against the 'States." Time will tell if Allsopp's words prove prophetic, but one thing is clear: the anticipation for June 12 is reaching critical mass, and a win for either side would be paramount for reaching the round of 16.