STAN Ternent's fingers will be crossed that England will shine in the World Cup but he admitted: "I think it will be very difficult for them."

The greatest tournament in the world started today and he claimed we will never win it again unless there is a change to the domestic calendar.

"It is ridiculous what the top players are being asked to do," he said.

"They have got Premier League games, European games, high pressure Cup games and have to play internationals on top.

"They go away from their clubs, play for their country on Wednesday, have one day to rest and are then back in training on Friday.

"We need to get into a position where everything is geared towards us winning the World Cup, at the moment it is crazy.

"That is why if you asked me to name the four teams that I fancy I would have to go for the holders France, Argentina, Spain and Italy - and that is without mentioning Brazil."

England start their campaign against Sweden on Sunday and Ternent believes that the loss of Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is a huge blow to Sven Goran Eriksson.

"He is a big miss and there has also been a big question mark over Kieron Dyer and David Beckham," he said. "At least it looks as if they will both be able to feature.

"Obviously the manager will have taken all the medical advice into account when he named his final squad. He needs 23 players who are fit and ready to play.

"If a couple were not going to be ready then you will be in trouble if there are fresh injuries or people get red cards.

"He will know exactly where he is up to and he has had a lot of good players to choose from. After all, he left behind the lads from Rovers, Andy Cole and Matt Jansen."

Having seen England play with a 4-3-3 formation, Ternent would not be surprised to see that system replicated when the real action starts on Sunday.

It is a system he used himself last season and he explained: "What it gives you is width at all times as well as strength in the middle of the field. People say it is 4-3-3 but it is also 4-5-1, they are interchangeable. With that formation it is important to have Becks and Dyer fit.

"To be honest, at international level very few sides play 4-4-2, most sides tend to play with a single striker.

"We have seen this season how a team like Liverpool will concede space to the opposition and it can become a game of patience.

"I don't think there will necessarily be a lot of chances created, even though the crowds want entertaining."

The myriad of star players that will be on show is enough to whet any football fan's appetite and Ternent is as excited as anyone.

"There are tens and tens of good players out there," he enthused. "It is the greatest football competition and you just have to think about the French with people like Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, although it is a shame that Pires is not going to be there.

"Then you have got Spain, Italy and Argentina, all full of good players."

As for who will be the star for England, Ternent admitted: "I don't see there being a Gazza but I am sure that somebody will hit it off big style."

Like most of the people of his generation, the World Cup that has the fondest memories for Ternent was 36 years ago when England, the hosts, lifted the trophy.

"That is the one that sticks in the mind," he recalled, although it was not just because of that magical day at Wembley.

"I remember Pele getting clogged out of it, a brilliant volley by the Hungarian Fakas, Eusebio scoring all those goals against the Koreans and the games being played at Everton, Middlesbrough and Sunderland."

If it had not been for the crisis at ITV Digital, Ternent could have been out in the Far East looking for potential signings.

"I would have gone out there but it was not to be," he said. "But I will be watching all the action on the telly."