It was D-day for England’s World Cup squad on Monday as they prepared to set off for Germany on a mission that they hope will end with skipper David Beckham raising high the trophy in Berlin on July 9.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men will have one final training session on home soil at Watford on Monday morning before they fly out from Luton airport to their base camp in the Black Forest resort of Baden-Baden.
Local dignitaries and school-children are to greet them on arrival at their five-star hotel.
Two 40-tonne lorries are transporting their equipment, including six pairs of boots for each player and 200 sets of kit.
”We will practice in the morning, after that lunch, on with the Armani suits and we go,” said Eriksson who was in optimistic mood after the rousing 6-0 win over Jamaica at Old Trafford on Saturday in what was England’s last build-up match.
”The World Cup starts when we get on the plane. We will feel it when we get to Germany,” he added.
The Swede, who is to stand down from his post at the end of the World Cup said he believed his squad are in the best of possible shapes and that they had to be considered among the favourites.
”If you ask the other 31 coaches, they all have a lot of respect for England,” he said.
”Up front with Wayne Rooney coming back or up front as we are with Michael Owen, they always respect Michael, and they know Peter Crouch is very difficult.
”Who wouldn’t want one of our four midfielders in their team? They are fantastic football players.
”Defensively they know we are strong. We’ve always been strong in big tournaments lately and it is difficult to score against us.
”I have a lot of respect for Brazil, Argentina and other countries but I think the opponents have a lot of respect for England.”
”Everything is more or less perfect. The spirit in the squad is fantastic, better than ever. The belief we can do very well is great.
”Fitness-wise we are much better, football-wise we are much better. I think we are ready for the World Cup.”
Flying out with the England squad will be standby forward Jermain Defoe of Tottenham, but his continued presence depends on the result of the next scan on Rooney’s injured foot.
The Manchester United star will also travel to Germany, but he is to return to his club on Wednesday for the crucial scan which will determine whether or not he will play any part in the June 9 – July 9 World Cup.
If the results are bad, Rooney could be dropped from the squad and Defoe would stay on. All the other standby players have been released. – Sapa-AFP