What England Needs to Win the World Cup

Both Theo Walcott and Ashley Young sped past their opposition full-backs during Wednesday night's hammering of Andorra, but once in good positions their final delivery was too often too poor.

They are certainly big threats on the flanks, but if goals are to be scored against the top nations next summer, then Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey will need good service into the box.

Young has shown for Aston Villa that he is capable of whipping in dangerous deliveries, so for him it is only a matter of of converting club form into international form.

Walcott, on the other hand, has also struggled to produce the final ball for Arsenal when in good positions. He is young, but England will need quality on the wings next summer now matter how old their wingers are.

Aaron Lennon and Joe Cole will be possible alternatives for the wide positions if they perform well next season.

Either David James needs to regain the consistency that saw him become one of the best Premier League goalkeepers two years ago, or Fabio Capello needs to start bedding in a successor to James in time for next summer.

If Ben Foster can play regularly next season, either for Manchester United or on loan elsewhere, he would be one of the favourites for the No. 1 spot alongside Rob Green, who has started the last two World Cup qualifiers in James' absence.

Heskey is likely to be the focal point to England's attack next summer, so it is vital he is fit and firing. He will be the key to England's hold-up play, bringing his more technically gifted teammates into play.

He is also a good finisher himself who, with confidence, can score goals in South Africa next year.

Gerrard and Rooney are England's two biggest threats. It is crucial they play well in South Africa. They are the two keys that can unlock the opposition defence with a cute pass or unleash a bullet themselves.

The pair's good understanding during recent England games has been clear and the partnership could be Capello's most potent weapon next summer.

Capello has been playing 4-4-2 recently with Rooney and Heskey up front and Gerrard cutting in from the left.

Though it has yielded terrific results, Gerrard is not at his best here. Gerrard is crucial to England, and it is vital he can make the same driving runs from midfield as he does for Liverpool. On the left this is slightly restricted. Rooney is argubly more suited to this kind of role.

What Capello could do is play 4-1-4-1, with Heskey up front on his own, Rooney on the left instead of Gerrard (as he has been for Manchester United), Gerrard and Lampard in the two attacking central positions and then Walcott, Lennon or Cole on the right.

Gareth Barry or Owen Hargreaves would play in defensive midfield. Could it work?

Or any injuries infact! Steven Gerrard missed the 2002 World Cup through injury and Wayne Rooney was not at his best at the 2006 World Cup for the same reason.

England need their key players fit if they are to challenge in South Africa.