Sven believes England can win the World Cup

The Notts County director of football managed England for five years.

“I really hope so,” he told the Times. “England have a very good team, with a very good manager, so everything’s there for them.

“As always when you go to a big tournament, you need your best players available. Are they injured, or too tired?

“Then, when you go, you must have luck – with yellow cards, in off the post or out off the post. Penalties? Don’t talk about penalties!

“The differences between the best seven and eight countries in the world are nothing. Going to South Africa, who can win the World Cup? Brazil can, Argentina, Spain, Italy again, Germany – but you always have England. They have the players.”