England, Argentina to be 'dark horses'

Former England captain Kevin Keegan rates Spain and Brazil the favourites for next month's World Cup but considered Argentina and England as two teams that can spring a few surprises.

"England are capable of winning the World Cup because we have an experienced squad and a good starting eleven. I think Spain and Brazil are the two strongest teams. But England could surprise a lot of people," said Keegan in an interview with Emirates Business.

"Fabio Capello has picked the players anybody would pick. There will always be a discussion about one or another. Most people in England like the way he prepares the team, like his style," said Keegan, who was manager during England's Euro 2000 campaign.

Keegan defended the recall of defender Jamie Carragher from self imposed international exile but wondered whether he would get a chance to play. "If you pick the best 23 players and pick the best defenders he would be in most people's squad. It was Jamie who said who didn't want to play. He's obviously had a turn around. He is a wholehearted player. I think it's a good thing that he has come back. Whether he will play if everybody is fit, I don't think he will," said Keegan, who was capped 63 times for England.

England's cricketers winning the World Twenty20 could also be a good omen for the footballers, admitted Keegan, who was born in Yorkshire. "It could be a double. Not many people expected England to win the cricket. They thought Australia or maybe India would win. It was a big surprise back in England. Maybe it would be a great year for England," he said.

The two-time European Footballer of the Year also felt Argentina had the potential to go all the way. "If [Diego] Maradona can get the players he has playing like they can, they have the players to beat anybody like [Lionel] Messi. They have a lot of very talented players. I think they could surprise a few people," said Keegan about the underperforming Argentineans who barely managed to qualify. "You have to realise in the World Cup you have to only get it together for six matches and you are in the final."

With less than four weeks to go for the greatest show on earth to begin, Keegan believes fitness of players would hold the key to success.

"England's chances are good if everybody is fit. If [Rio] Ferdinand is fit, [Wayne] Rooney stays fit, John Terry and David James [he is nearly 39] are fit. If we lose any or a key player like Terry, we haven't got the strength beneath like some of the other teams," said Keegan, whose 1982 World Cup in Spain lasted just 18 minutes.

Keegan feels more players could drop out either because of one tackle like the one suffered by Germany captain Michael Ballack or some freak injury. "When I went to Spain, both myself and Trevor Brookings, who were probably at that time the key players for England, we both got injured. That was during the preparations. There are still a lot of players who are going to drop out, who are fit now," said the former Liverpool legend.

"People would say be careful in the matches. But you could get injured in the training. You can get injured with just nobody around you, just shooting. If you pull a muscle or a hamstring with the World Cup just four weeks, you are not going to recover. That happens with lots of players particularly after a long hard season. Some players are fatigued," said Keegan, a pundit for ESPN who would be working for ITV during the World Cup.

Keegan ruled out a return to management in England in the near future. "At this moment of time, no. I'm happy doing what I'm doing. I've had lot of offers from different countries, from other clubs in England," said Keegan, 59, who is in Dubai to promote Soccer Circus.

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