03 March,2010 08:11 AM IST | | PA Sport
Egypt coach Hassan Shehata believes England should be aiming high at this summer's World Cup. Egypt coach Hassan Shehata
The Pharaohs are still coming to terms with the fact they will not be in South Africa themselves following their agonising play-off defeat by Algeria in Sudan last November.
Instead, they are having to make do with the compensation of winning their third African Nations Cup on the trot and acting as England's warm-up act ahead of their Group C encounter with Algeria in Cape Town on June 18.
However, for England, the future remains bright, and Shehata feels his side could be facing the future world champions at Wembley tomorrow night.
"It is only natural for England to be thinking of winning it again," he said.
"They have not won the World Cup since 1966, so it is time.
"They have a great team, with some great players. The English team have a good technical staff and their coach, Fabio Capello, is really good.
"Also, you have to take into account the Premier League is one of the strongest in the world.
"When you take everything into account, you have to say England have a good chance of winning the World Cup."
As England are currently ranked ninth in the FIFA rankings and Egypt jumped to 10th following their triumph in Angola, it should be a closely-fought encounter.
