GET ready for the greatest show on earth. The World Cup is about to blitz our screens and all eyes are on Becks and the rest.

They say England have not got a hope of winning it and that could just work in our favour.

Expectations always weigh heavily in football but especially in World Cup Finals - remember Ally's Army in Argentina.

When the pressure is off teams can relax and play to their potential and England go into the tournament with few outside this country expecting much of Sven's men.

Listen to the bookies and the winners will come from the big five of France, Argentina, Italy, Brazil and Spain.

They have a point. I reckon England will come through their group with draws against Sweden and Argentina and a narrow victory over Nigeria. But after that it will take a gargantuan effort to get through to the final.

The conditions are also against them, the humidity and slow surface favouring the South American teams more than the Europeans.

But nobody said it was going to be easy and if we can get through that group and build up a head of steam the team is young enough and daft enough to go all the way.

The lack of Stephen Gerrard is a massive blow as is the retirement from international football of England's best striker Alan Shearer.

It puts huge responsibility on the shoulders of David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen and they will have to show maturity beyond their years during the tournament.

One of the great things about the World Cup is there is always one player who emerges from the shadows and turns himself into a household name.

In Italy it was Gazza. In France it was Owen. In Japan and South Korea there are a number of contenders.

Darius Vassell could be the surprise package judging from his record for England. He is not a big noise in the Premiership but he is one of those players who just seems to click into gear when he wears the Three Lions.

Three goals in five games means he is expected to start on against Sweden and who'd have thought that six months ago?

I'll also be watching closely for Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole. They are not expected to play in the first game but the more the competition wears on the more these two quality youngsters can make an impression.

And the winner? My heart says England. My head says Italy...or France...or Argentina.