Landon Donovan relishing World Cup meeting with LA Galaxy team-mate David Beckham

Landon Donovan is looking forward to some banter with LA Galaxy team-mate David Beckham in the countdown to next year’s World Cup.

The United States and England meet in Rustenberg on June 12.

That could pit Donovan, the USA’s leading all-time goalscorer with 47 goals in 120 appearances, against Beckham (right).

There’s history between the duo, who traded insults over the England midfielder’s level of commitment to Galaxy and Major League Soccer.

Donovan said: “We’ve moved past the things that we had problems with and now it will just be fun.

“The banter will be good – there’ll be some trash talking, I’m sure.”

Donovan, USA player of the year and the MLS’ Most Valuable Player for 2009, was happy with the draw, which pits his country against England, Algeria and Slovenia.

He added: “England are a very good team and it’s a great match-up. It’s going to be very exciting.

“Under Fabio Capello, they’ve become a very good side. They qualified easily in a very tough group and have players who play in some of the best teams in the world consistently.”

Also looking forward to a potential Becks-Donovan collision is MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

He admitted: “This game is very important for MLS as it should have two of our biggest stars playing each other on the world’s stage.”