James plays for keeps

Physically, he has all that is required of a top-class goalkeeper. Temperamentally, he has matured enormously in recent seasons and he responded to relegation with West Ham last season by ensuring he maintained his focus. His transfer to City has put him among the Premiership elite again, though question marks remain over his distribution, particularly his kicking, and his decision-making.

The 'Calamity James' days of his time at Liverpool are behind him, though. Vast experience, physical presence and an unerring faith in his own ability will make him an integral part of Eriksson's bid for England's first trophy since 1966. He's in the position Woods once found himself and must hope that his patience is similarly rewarded.

The former Norwich, Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper made just six England starts between his debut in 1985 and Peter Shilton's retirement in 1990. But he finished his international career with 43 caps.

Will James get the same chance? At the moment he's without a serious challenger. In his three years in charge Eriksson has looked at Richard Wright, Nigel Martyn, Ian Walker, Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland but, approaching his first big tournament without Seaman, clearly has James installed as his first choice.

Kirkland and Robinson, as the youngest of his rivals, have the best chance to succeed James in the long term but I don't think either yet has the experience for big tournament football.

The 6ft 6in Kirkland, 22, is probably the most talented of the young pretenders but a catalogue of injuries has cost him a regular first-team place at Liverpool.

Regular football is an essential requirement for any goalkeeper with international aspirations. The young Shilton, the greatest of them all, realised this 40 years ago. Understudy to the legendary Banks at Leicester City, he was so good that the club were able to give him a regular first-team place at 18 and sell their World Cup hero to Stoke.

Shilton may well have played more than 200 games for his country had it not been for the quality of other English goalkeepers at the time. He spent 20 years playing in goal for England and those challenging him for the No1 shirt during that period included Banks, Ray Clemence, Phil Parkes, Jimmy Rimmer, Joe Corrigan, Gary Bailey and, of course, Woods and Seaman.

Clemence picked up 61 caps between 1973-84 which tells you something about the quality of Shilton's rivals.

But James stands alone... for the moment. It's a great opportunity for him and one, I suspect, he's been waiting on for a long time.