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Harry Harris - Chief Football Writer - The Express

England best for talent

English football will prove to be the best in the world in Germany - even if England don’t actually win the World Cup.

There are more players participating in the Finals this summer from the Premier League, and indeed, the Football league, than any other nation on earth. Well, English football is really only competing with the likes of Spain and Italy in the category of the Most Foreign Stars.

But where once Serie A and La Liga were market leaders in attracting the cream of European and global football icons, now it’s the English game that has overtaken them.

Yet another, and even grander TV contract is one of the reasons, a new £1.7billlion three year deal with Sky and Setanta, supplemented with as live, highlights, broadband/new technology plus overseas rights will swell the Premier League clubs coffers to £2.5billlion.

On top of that is the central Barclays sponsorship, gate revenues, commercial and marketing contracts and English football is awash with dosh.

So, the big clubs will pay £100,000-a-week wages as much as any other European club, and it’s increasingly more likely that only English clubs will fork out £30m transfer fees.

Herald the arrival of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack pushing the barriers even higher.

Both the German and Ukrainian captains will arrive after this World Cup on salaries of £130,000 a week, surpassing that of Michael Owen on £120,000-a-week at St. James’s Park and Thierry Henry’s new £110,000-a-week deal at the new Ashburton Grove. Shevchenko cost a new British record £30.8m surpassing the £29.1m of Rio Ferdinand.

It was a significant coup, not just for the Gunners future, but for English football to keep Henry here and out of the clutches of Barcelona.

Personally, I have a hunch that England will do so well in this tournament that they have every chance of winning. Of course, far more chance, if Wayne Rooney can play even in the quarter-finals and beyond.

The Patriotic Punters are putting the loose change on England and the bookies could take close to a £100m hit if Sven Goran Eriksson departs with his reputation restored and for England football 40 years of hurt brought to a wonderful end with a Trafalgar Square parade.

Yes, England can win the World Cup, Wayne’s metatarsal will heal in time for a quarter-final appearance off the bench, and Eriksson can end his five and a half year reign in Berlin.

No, I am not about to wake up in a cold sweat. I haven't been dreaming. Nor have I taken any FIFA banned substances. Steven Gerrard can be one of the stars of the tournament, Michael Carrick can emerge, as Eriksson’s formation evolves, into one of the classiest holding midfield-playmakers in Germany, John Terry one of the most fearless defenders in the world, and Michael Owen can still be a predatory force inside the penalty area even if he has lost that burst of speed.

There is even a sneaking belief that Arron Lennon and Theo Walcott cam come off the bench - and I would advice Sven to put them on together, to terrorise defences with their electric pace.

So, 40 years of hurt can come to an end just as the nations first foreign coach takes his final bow.

For so long Eriksson’s critics have hammered the old devil for all of his off the field shenanigans, his sexploits inside Soho Square. But over the years it has become a truism that footie fans don’t care so long as the team wins. Let’s hope that Sir Sven goes out a hero and Sir David is holding the trophy aloft just as Bobby Moore did in 66.

I’m a believer, and I know there are millions out there who believe it too. England have won the rugby World Cup, beat the Aussie to bring home the Ashes, and now lets believe - football is also coming home.

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