10 Reasons Why England Can Win The 2006 World Cup

1. Paul Robinson is the best England goalkeeper since Gordon Banks. Peter Shilton, Ray Clemence, Joe Corrigan, Chris Woods, David Seaman, David James. None of them had his agility, distribution, or control over the defence.

2. David Beckham is now an experienced captain, with five major tournaments under his belt. He commands the respect of both his team-mates and his manager, and is still capable of scoring from any free-kick within 35 yards of goal. He'd be worth keeping in the team for his corners alone.

3. John Terry is probably the best central defender in Europe at the moment.

4. Joe Cole has just finished his best season yet for Chelsea, and - AND! - he's left footed. Just think. A good left-footed England midfielder.

5. If fit, Wayne Rooney is the best attacking player in the world. Really. If they make it to the latter stages, he's likely to be fit, and will petrify any defender he comes up against.

6. In spite of Brazil in 2002, Sven Goran Ericsson rarely gets it tactically wrong. Think about the two matches against Argentina. Think about that game in Munich. He didn't get it wrong against Portugal in Euro 2004. England would (in my humble opinion) have won with Rooney on the pitch, and there's no disgrace in losing to the hosts of a tournament on penalties. He'll also be wanting to go out on a high.

7. Lampard and Gerrard in midfield. No other country in the world has a midfield pairing that strong. Lampard is practically indestructable and Gerrard was playing the best football of his career in the second half of last season.

8. The hosts for this World Cup are weak. Germany will be far more scared of England than England are of Germany. Brazil? Did you see Ronaldinho in the Champions League Final? He barely turned up. If that's now reacts to the big matches nowadays, it's there for the taking.

9. They got a decent draw. Upsets elsewhere could give England a relatively clear run to the semi-finals, and then it's anybody's game.

10. Well... It's about time, isn't it...?