Former Liverpool defender and current New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol has warned England not take the USA lightly when they clash at next year's World Cup.

The Scotland native spent almost his entire playing career in England before moving to the USA where has been for the past nine years, spending seven those as head coach of the Revs.

Nicol knows enough about both countries football teams to understand that the gap in quality that one day would have lay in between England and the USA would definitely now have closed.

"It's not the US of 20 or 30 years ago, when England could just turn up and roll them over," Nicol told Scotland on Sunday. "If they think that's what's going to happen, they are in for a surprise.

"They (USA) are well organised," added Nicol. "They are not going to give you anything unless you work for it, unless you have players who can produce something out of nothing. And you can't afford to give them anything. If you do, you will find it hard to break them down.

"When you look at the two teams, man for man, obviously you would fancy England, but that's not always how it works. The US had a fantastic result against Spain in the Confederations Cup. England will have to be on their guard."