England left for the World Cup yesterday, brimming with confidence and claiming the squad is fitter and more skillful than four years ago.
England were due to train outside London yesterday morning before flying to the southern German spa town of Baden-Baden. England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who quits after the World Cup, is eager to hear the opening whistle of England's first game against Paraguay in Frankfurt on Saturday.
"The spirit in the squad is fantastic," Eriksson said from England before leaving. "Even better than it's been before and before it's been very good. The belief that 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."
The Swedish coach was touched by the applause from 70,000-odd fans at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium after England beat Jamaica 6-0 on Saturday -- his final match on English soil.
"I am desperate to win the trophy for the fans," he said. "The support you have given me since my first game has been very special. You have made me feel English. I am proud to wear the Three Lions."
"I am so determined to achieve something special and I see no reason at all why we can't," he said.
Eriksson said he had lived in several European countries but "the love" English people had for soccer and for their country "takes my breath away."
England heads for Germany on the back of six wins, including 17 goals. Last week's 2-1 defeat against Belarus was not a full international.
Injured striker Wayne Rooney is also traveling, returning to Manchester tomorrow to have another scan on his broken right foot, sustained on April 29. England has until Friday to decide whether to keep Rooney or call up standby striker Jermain Defoe.
Eriksson is confident Rooney will stay with the squad, a hope boosted by the sight of the Manchester United striker running and kicking a ball with both feet during training on Friday.
"Everybody thinks that he will come back from Manchester on Wednesday evening," Eriksson said. "But I can't be sure until the scan."
Eriksson believes Michael Owen has fully recovered from the broken foot which has limited him to four games this year. The Newcastle United striker scored his first goal of 2006 on Saturday and helped the emerging Peter Crouch score a hat trick.
"Michael, I think he's always been calculating -- `OK, World Cup is close, I will show who Michael Owen is' and he will probably play even better next Saturday," Eriksson said.
Eriksson's only other worry is left back Ashley Cole, who was taken off in the first half on Saturday with a thigh injury. He had a scan on Saturday as a precaution.
Right back Gary Neville was rested to ease a hamstring complaint, but he was due to resume training yesterday.
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