James joy at Fab life

Goalkeeper reiterates desire to emulate Zoff in 2010

Last updated: 28th May 2008

James David England training

James: Desperate for World Cup glory

I just want to be in the England team. I want to be part of the success.

David James
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David James is confident Fabio Capello is the man to lead England to World Cup glory in two years' time.

Having infamously missed out on qualification to for this summer's European Championship finals, England have now been forced to set their sights on the 2010 World Cup.

England face USA in a friendly at Wembley on Wednesday as manager Capello continues to examine his squad ahead of the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers in September.

Since taking charge in January, Capello has named James in his first XI for the two friendlies against Switzerland and France and the Portsmouth goalkeeper has been impressed.

Excitement

"It is so exciting again," James said in the Daily Star. "There is a sense of order within the set-up at the moment.

"The exciting point is that the order is there, but there is a manager who wants us to improve to where he wants us to get to.

"That is vitally important. He has a vision of how we should play and what we should do. He will get that across without a doubt."

James, 37, has also reiterated his desire to emulate legendary Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff, who captained his country to World Cup glory at the age of 40 in 1982.

Love

"I would love to be England's Dino Zoff, winning the World Cup at 40," added James, who is expected to start on the bench behind Joe Hart at Wembley on Wednesday.

"But if it is not me then someone else is going to do it. I want to be that person but ultimately Mr Capello has been brought in to put English football where it should be - challenging for trophies and major tournament finals.

"Now he will achieve that but my goal is to be part of that. If I am not then someone else will be achieving what I want to and that is the excitement.

"Rather than thinking it, I just want to be in the England team. I want to be part of the success. Everybody needs to think like that."