World Cup countdown kicks off
(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2006-03-01 06:14

Left-back Wayne Bridge also has to prove himself worthy of a place on the plane having moved on loan to Fulham to ensure he gets regular football after spending the first half of the season sidelined at Chelsea.

Amongst the England players there appears to be a genuine belief that they can go all the way in Germany, although doubts remain about whether Eriksson has really found a way of effectively meshing the similar styles of Lampard and Gerrard in the crucial central midfield departments.

France, who will be relying on the experience of veteran star Zinedine Zidane in Germany, had a last-minute setback in their preparations for the Slovakia fixture.

Chelsea defender William Gallas has a muscular problem in a leg and 22-year-old Nantes midfielder Jeremy Toulalan was called up as a replacement.