Cautious England put faith in Rooney
After chastening experiences at the past two World Cups, England go to the finals in Brazil with a new wave of youth supporting Wayne Rooney.
But there is much more caution around this squad than for the "Golden Generation" that went to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and lost on penalties to Portugal in the last eight.
Four years later, things regressed further as a side coached by Fabio Capello struggled through a straightforward group before crashing 4-1 to Germany in the last 16.
England's 1966 World Cup success frames the country's perception of its place in the global pecking order, and Football Association chairman Greg Dyke had to backtrack after suggesting in September the team stood no chance of winning in Brazil.
Manager Roy Hodgson, who succeeded Capello shortly before Euro 2012 - where England reached the quarter-finals - has been obliged to toe a line between pragmatism and cheery optimism.
"We won't fear anybody and in the same way we will respect everybody. The players will be desperate to do well," he said.
Hodgson has named a 23-man squad, and seven players are on standby if any of those named are injured before the June 2 deadline, with veterans Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard included.
But it is also marked by the arrival of teenagers Luke Shaw and Raheem Sterling and 20-year-old Ross Barkley.
Only six players have previous World Cup experience. Out have gone Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand, rocks of the defence in the past decade.
Hodgson has been eager to improve England's control of possession - a historic weakness - but pace in forward areas remains their key asset.
They were dominated in possession terms by both Chile and Germany, while Hodgson suggested after a 0-0 draw in Ukraine in September that England would abandon attempts to play out from the back against teams who press high up the pitch.
Hodgson can nonetheless draw solace from the fact that his two key players, Gerrard and Rooney, are in top form.
A prolific campaign with Liverpool has made Daniel Sturridge the clear choice to partner Rooney, while goalkeeper Joe Hart has overcome a mid-season wobble that momentarily cost him his place in the Manchester City team.
In defence, Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill have established themselves as Hodgson's first-choice centre-back pairing.
In midfield Arsenal's Jack Wilshere has recovered from the hairline foot fracture he suffered against Denmark, while the emergence of young midfielders such as Adam Lallana, Barkley and Sterling has softened the absence through injury of Theo Walcott.
