First Egypt And Then The World?!

Seriously, though, England could win it and we should believe they could. Partly because we have some world class players, but mainly because we have a world class manager in Fabio Capello.

England were dreadful in the first half against Egypt, but after a half-time team talk from Capello and a couple of changes in personnel - Peter Crouch on for Jermain Defoe and Shaun Wright-Phillips on for Theo Walcott -they were transformed.

Capello saw what was going wrong and rectified it. That's a manager who has a plan B and a plan A, something Sven Goran Eriksson failed to have. And when the Italian talks, England's players clearly listen!

It is easy to write Egypt off as opposition, but they have been African Champions three times in a row and England will face far worse sides in their group in South Africa.

Of course, England should be beating opposition like that, we're eighth (quarter-final standard as ever) in the new Fifa rankings. My real concern is what happens when they play somebody really good.

Since Capello took over we have lost to France, Spain and Brazil. If England are going to win the World Cup they are going to have to beat at least one, if not two of these countries. That should put the size of the task into perspective.

England have also only drawn against Holland, although they have beaten Germany in Germany. As I say, they have a chance, but I still wouldn't say they are one of the favourites.

So much depends on Rooney, of course, and everyone other than Manchester United fans will wince every time he takes a tumble or stays down a little longer than normal after a heavy tackle.

But we could also do with Ashley Cole - regardless of his marital troubles with Cheryl - at left-back, which is touch and go, while Rio Ferdinand's back trouble is a worry as well given his age.

John Terry also desperately needs to rediscover his composure - in and outside of the bedroom - as he looks like an accident waiting to happen at the moment.

And then there is right-back? Wes Brown isn't international class, Gary Neville is past it and Glen Johnson is injured.

The rest will sort itself out. Joe Cole might come back in on the left, moving Steven Gerrard back into the middle instead of Frank Lampard. Emile Heskey might start alongside Rooney, maybe Crouch, possibly Defoe.

Aaron Lennon will hopefully recover from his groin problem to make the plane, Wright-Phillips has played his way into the squad, which probably means a choice between Walcott and David Beckham.

James Milner will definitely go, Gareth Barry is the same, while the three goalkeepers will be Joe Hart, David James and Robert Green barring mishap.

It is a solid squad with strength in every department. The rest is down to luck, penalty shoot-outs and injuries. I'm already getting excited thinking about it. Just need to get my sticker book ordered!