Desert Foxes disappoint While the national team's training camp continues in California, Bob Bradley will no doubt have an eye on Angola, where one of the U.S.' World Cup Group C opponents, Algeria, has started poorly in its Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The Desert Foxes were beaten 3-0 by Malawi on Monday, a result that was called "a lesson in humility" by their coach, Rabah Saadane, whose starting 11 featured nine European-based players. Algeria was ineffective in attack and porous at the back, where each goal conceded offered confidence to the U.S. ahead of the countries' June 23 showdown. Algeria's preparations for the tournament were hampered on its eve by the withdrawal of experienced goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, who has acute appendicitis. His replacement, Faouzi Chaouchi, had impressed in shutting out Egypt in November's World Cup play-in game but was unable to repeat his heroics against Malawi, with two of those goals following his mistakes. Not that Chaouchi was solely to blame for the defensive lapses. Malawi's opener came after Madjid Bougherra -- a teammate at Rangers of Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley -- played two attackers onside before compounding his error by colliding with his goalkeeper, resulting in a botched Chaouchi clearance, which presented Russel Mwafulirwa with an open net. Malawi's second and third goals indicated how much Algeria misses the injured Antar Yahia, whose goal two months ago clinched a spot in South Africa, in defense and implied a weakness against the crossed ball, which the U.S. can look to exploit. First, Elvis Kafoteka got in between two defenders to head in a left-wing delivery before halftime. The result was sealed shortly after the interval when, after Chaouchi weakly punched a center from the right, David Banda fired home from close range. Algeria, which will look to improve against Mali on Thursday, is not the only World Cup-bound nation to start slowly at the Cup of Nations. Nigeria was beaten by defending champions Egypt, and Cameroon lost to Gabon, while Ivory Coast could not find a way past Burkina Faso, despite registering 22 shots. Holden to Bolton Stuart Holden had to be patient but finally has his chance to impress Owen Coyle. The Scottish-born Texan is on trial with Bolton this week after his would-be new manager, having quit Burnley, took over at the Reebok Stadium. On the face of it, having to go on trial seems a little disrespectful. Holden will face a test of his character, as well as his ability, while he attempts to impress prospective new teammates, several of whom will feel he is a threat to their jobs. However, Holden in good stead because of the belief that Coyle appears to have in him. It would have been very easy to have pushed the midfielder to one side while he gets his feet under the table in his new role, but the fact that Coyle has called him in before he has even taken charge of Bolton in a game suggests a contract is Holden's for the taking. The respective merits of Bolton and Burnley is a debate that has raged, with Coyle as its subject, for several weeks. From Holden's point of view, playing consistently in the Premier League is more important than for which club he turns out. Bolton's squad is slightly bigger than is Burnley's, but a strong display on the practice field should keep Coyle in his corner, meaning a contract and opportunities will follow.