There is more than enough youth and experience in the England squad to make a huge impact on this summer's World Cup finals.

The arrival of British summertime has whetted the appetite for a competition that is all the more exciting because it is in Europe - and is being held during the 40th anniversary of the year we won our only World Cup.

I think we're ready for it!

Everyone knows the manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is leaving but let us hope we do better than expected as we did in reaching the semi-finals in 1990 when the players knew that Bobby Robson would be going at the end of the tournament.

Let's hope the players in the 2006 squad, many of whom are at their peak, will be equally determined to give Sven a good send-off. It is about time we had more success.

Sven and his assistant Tord Grip will undoubtedly have the bulk of the 23-man squad already pencilled in ready for the early announcement demanded by FIFA on the 15th of May.

Everyone knows Sven's first choice XI - Robinson; G Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole; Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole; Rooney, Owen.

He will of course have a hotline to the medical rooms at Arsenal and Newcastle for the latest updates on the injuries to Ashley Cole and Michael Owen but, provided they recover in time, this is the squad I see going to Germany.

Paul Robinson at Spurs has very quietly and efficiently made himself the number one choice. As yet he has not played enough internationals to be compared with the greats like Ray Clemence and Peter Shilton but he reminds me of Peter the Great in terms of his temperament.

In his time at The Dell, Peter was never the flashy type, he relied very much on positioning and angles and trained extremely hard.

At his peak he was the best in the world.

Robinson's temperament seems to be the same but he has a long way to go to match Shilts and Clemence, who is now the goalkeeping coach.

The rest of the required three goalkeepers will be made up of Robert Green, who will be waving the flag for the Championship, and David James, who is probably quite fortunate that Chris Kirkland has had so many injuries.

But someone with David's experience and personality will be good to have around the camp. David is a very impressive person. He has earned the nickname 'Calamity' but that could apply to most goalkeepers, whose errors are magnified.

I know David well. He is immensely strong-natured and does a lot of work for charities such as the Special Olympics for whom he is an ambassador. The kids all have learning disabilities but really enjoy his company.

We are blessed with many good central defenders and John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are our modern day Jack Charlton and Bobby Moore - but they will have to pick up winners' medals before they can be called world class.

Jamie Carragher is in the Terry mould - you would follow either into battle - while Sol Campbell has become something of a mystery man with his recent injuries.

Wes Brown has experience of the big time with Manchester United but Ledley King has forced his way in and has proved able to play as an anchor type in midfield as well.

If everyone is fit the full backs pick themselves - Gary Neville and Ashley Cole.

There is a question mark over Cole but Wayne Bridge has found fitness at the right time while Luke Young would probably get in ahead of Glen Johnson as cover at right back but Phil Neville could pip them both.

Neville missed out on the last squad but has had glowing references from David Moyes, his Everton manger, and his strength is his versatility because he can also play in midfield. I expect him to join his brother on the plane.

Captain David Beckham, with his able understudy, Shaun Wright Phillips, will look after the right flank, while the left side does not seem to be the huge problem it was a year ago as Joe Cole has filled that spot well for club and country.

Cole has shown much more discipline when forced back into defensive systems, while retaining his natural flair going forward.

On paper we are blessed with wonderful attacking central midfielders like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard but most coaches would normally play with an anchor man to allow the other to go forward. This is one of Sven's biggest selection problems.

Against Trinidad & Tobago I would not hesitate to play both as I would expect my defence to handle any attacking threat.

But in the later rounds more tactical thinking will have to take place.

I've never fancied Beckham as a central midfielder. He is a talented player with great experience but he is not a Claude Makelele type.

I don't know whether Lampard or Gerrard could change their natural game to allow the other the freedom he has at club level, but it would be a pity to see one of them on the bench because both thrive so much on the big stage.

It would be a brave decision to drop either of them but Joe Cole may be the one who has to make way, even though it would create some imbalance.

Michael Carrick has proved that he is able to play the holding role as has Scott Parker. His chances have been reduced after he contracted glandular fever but Ledley King could play there while even Nicky Butt could feature despite not having the best of seasons for Birmingham.

Jermaine Jenas will be in the frame as cover for Lampard and Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves, who no one sees between internationals, always seems to make the cut.

I've never been totally impressed with him. He does a job without standing out, but the fact he plays regular big time football in Germany and can give us left-side balance is in his favour.

He will probably be included at the expense of the injury-plagued Kieron Dyer and Stewart Downing.

Kieran Richardson, back at Manchester United after doing well on loan at West Brom, will be hoping to have impressed enough but sadly his teammate, Alan Smith, will not be considered because of injury.

It comes down to who will play with Wayne Rooney, who seems to be getting better and better.

I'm sure Sven would love Sir Alex Ferguson to rest him and play Ruud Van Nistelrooy a bit more instead!

Michael Owen, if fit, will partner Rooney but he has not played much at all and the news that he has had to have a second operation on his foot is a natural concern.

That is one of the reasons why Sven has pleaded with the authorities to put the date of the squad announcement back. While the league season will be over on May 15, Owen may well need many training sessions to prove his fitness and surely must play games before being included.

If Owen does not return to full fitness in time I would start with Peter Crouch against the likes of Trinidad & Tobago as they would be frightened to death of him.

Iain Dowie will be hoping that Andy Johnson gets in but Jermaine Defoe appears to be the fellow in waiting because he is so similar to Owen.

James Beattie has the confidence to do well and appears to have got the message. He is coming good at the right time and Darren Bent is also doing his utmost to catch the eye. While Dean Ashton's move from Norwich has coincided with West Ham's good run, it has probably come too late for him.

MY 23-man England squad: Robinson, Green, James; G Neville, A Cole, Bridge, P Neville , Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher, King, Beckham, Wright-Phillips, Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole, Jenas, Carrick, Hargreaves, Rooney, Owen, Defoe, Crouch.