World Cup Contenders Need To Beat Brazil - England Striker Peter Crouch

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England Press Conference: Peter Crouch (PA)

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England have emerged as one of the bookies' favourites for winning the World Cup outright next summer, due partly to their impressive form during the qualification phase.

Leggy frontman Peter Crouch believes that if Fabio Capello's Three Lions harbour real aspirations of winning the tournament, then they must defeat Dunga's Brazil when the two nations meet in Qatar in a friendly on Saturday.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker boasts a healthy international strike rate, and will likely partner Wayne Rooney in attack.

Crouch told journalists at a press conference today: "We've come off the back of a good qualifying campaign. It is important to get good results now in friendlies prior to the World Cup tournament.

"South American opposition are always a test. We've grown up enjoying watching them and it will be good being involved in a game against them.

"It's a little bit different playing in [Qatar's] climate, against non-European opposition. If you have any aspirations of winning the World Cup then you need to do well in these type of games," he said.

In the most recent England international, Crouch scored twice against Belarus. Regarding his own chances of securing a place in Capello's final World Cup selection, the 28-year-old said: "I certainly hope it [scoring a brace] helps.

"Anytime you get given the opportnity to play for England you have to take it and I hope my goals helped my cause. In the game coming up, I hope I can do a similar thing.

"I am pleased with my goal-scoring form. I always feel I get chances in an England shirt. They've been going in since I've started playing for England really and that's to do with the quality of the team.

"Wayne Rooney is a starter, and it's whoever partners him really. Me and Carlton [Cole] are similar, of course, those two [Cole and Emile Heskey] aren't in the squad this time so hopefully this time I'll get a good chance."

Crouch has scored 18 goals from 35 international appearances.

Alan Dawson, Goal.com UK