World Cup 2010: England

World Cup 2010: ENGLAND

FIFA ranking: 7

Overall World Cup record: 25-13-17

Coach: Fabio Capello

Best performance: Winner, 1966

Overview: Forty-four years have passed since Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, Nobby Stiles and the rest of the gang made English football history. England’s last two World Cup campaigns have come to grief in the quarterfinals. An Italian coach is being counted on to clear that hurdle, along with a soccer brain in midfielder Frank Lampard and a lethal striker in Wayne Rooney. There will be no David Beckham, but no matter. Disappointment yet again? It’s quite possible.

-- Grahame L. Jones