England 1 - 0 Paraguay

England v Paraguay: Preview

Updated: June 9, 2006, 4:22 PM ET

Rio Ferdinand admits England's World Cup squad are driven by the desire to take their place in history alongside the boys of 1966.

England will start their bid to won football's greatest prize for the first time in 40 years when they take on Paraguay in Frankfurt on Saturday.

Ferdinand believes the esteem the late Bobby Moore, hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst, Alan Ball and company are still held in today is merited.

But the Manchester United defender wants Sven-Goran Eriksson's side to receive the same accolades by lifting the trophy in Berlin on July 9.

Ferdinand said: "The treatment the 1966 players get now and the esteem they are held in is brilliant. They have the pictures and the medal for life.

"They can say `we won the World Cup' and we can't. We are in a position where we are looking up to people like that - and we'd like to be alongside them.

"You want to be part of something that goes down in history. If we do well this summer, there is a good chance our names will go down in history.''

Ferdinand added: "Is there pressure on the team to deliver the trophy? You put yourself under pressure and anyone who pulls on the England shirt wants to be a winner.

"You want to come away with a winner's medal. The pressure is almost enhanced by my own expectations of myself and of the team because I know what the team is capable of.

"If we don't meet those standards, then individually and collectively we are going to be disappointed.''

Ferdinand believes the days of England having an inferior complex when facing the likes of champions Brazil no longer exist.

He said: "I think players individually are more confident. Players in this squad are at a prime age as well, a bit more experienced, a bit further down the line.

"Maybe back in 2002 we might have played against Brazil and saw ourselves as being a little bit inferior subconsciously - but now we run on the pitch against any team in the world and believe we can win.

"Before we have gone on the pitch and thought `wow, this is the World Cup, we are playing against Brazil' whereas now we are going into this tournament thinking `whoever we come up against, we are there to win the game'.

"We can go onto that pitch with 11 players who feel comfortable - whoever they are.''

Ferdinand has a greater incentive than most to succeed in Germany after missing Euro 2004 in Portugal when he was banned after failing to attend a routine drugs test.

He said: "To miss a European Championship is massive. I missed a big slice of my career (eight months). Sometimes people are chatting away about Euro 2004 and I can't get involved because I wasn't there.

"That acts as a bit of a reminder of what happened and I watched the games with some mates in Miami. It makes you more hungry.''

England will be without key man Wayne Rooney for the clash, as he attempts to regain match fitness after recovering from his metatarsal injury. Steven Gerrard is almost certain to take his place in midfield, despite a hip injury sustained in training during the week.

Paraguay boss Anibal Ruiz is ready to hold a silent vigil during his side's World Cup opener against England.

The Uruguayan boss normally communicates with his players in Spanish but he and his squad are wary of England captain David Beckham eavesdropping on their on-field discussions in Saturday's Group B encounter.

Beckham has learnt the language playing for Real Madrid and, in order to negate this potential advantage, Paraguay's players will therefore only communicate using their native Guarani.

Ruiz cannot speak the language but feels his side's chances will be better served if they stick to Guarani.

"I do not speak it, but I understand the players. They teach me all the time,'' he said.

Those sentiments were echoed by skipper Carlos Gamarra, who added: "David Beckham talks in Spanish. So, we will talk in Guarani because nobody understands us.''

Paraguay have arrived in Frankfurt for the game and are still sweating on the fitness of star striker Roque Santa Cruz, who has some discomfort in his left knee.

The Bayern Munich forward is desperate to play and Ruiz has assured him he will give him until the 11th hour before naming his starting XI.

"It is very difficult for a coach to find a player like Santa Cruz in football currently,'' Ruiz said on Thursday.