You can't win, Fergie tells Sven

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed England's chances of winning the World Cup next summer because he claims that David Beckham and Michael Owen are the only world-class performers at their disposal.

The Manchester United manager, assessing Europe's challenge in Korea and Japan, puts Italy and Spain ahead of resurgent England, but said: 'France are still head and shoulders above the rest.'

His conclusion may surprise his own United players Paul Scholes, Andy Cole, Gary Neville and Wes Brown, as well as the likes of Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand of Leeds. The Scot, who plays host to England and their Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson in Manchester ahead of Saturday's friendly against Sweden at Old Trafford, believes Italian striker Francesco Totti has it in him to be the player of the tournament.

Ferguson predicted: 'Beckham and Owen can go to another level, but this will be Totti's World Cup. He is clearly the best - and then there is Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry for France. Spain also have some interesting youngsters, but Raul is the one who stands out.'

But, ultimately, he believes Roger Lemerre's French team, already World and Euro 2000 champions, are capable of retaining the trophy to become the first European nation to triumph outside their own continent.

Ferguson, who last night saw his shadow squad unceremoniously eliminated from the Worthington Cup at Highbury, also expressed his concern for players of Beckham and Owen's stature.