Striker Michael Owen [Images] says England [Images] would have nothing to fear from Brazil [Images] if they had to face the holders at next year's World Cup.

Brazil, who beat England 2-1 in the 2002 quarter-finals, are even bigger favourites for 2006 since the emergence of forwards Adriano and Robinho in a side that already has the likes of Ronaldo [Images] and Ronaldinho [Images] up front.

"I certainly don't see them as unbeatable," Owen, who scored England's goal against Brazil in 2002, told reporters during preparations for Saturday's friendly against Argentina. "I've no fear of playing any top teams.

"They've got some cracking players and if you asked the world who were going to win it, they'd come top.

"But if we played against them we wouldn't fear them at all. We'd respect them and they've got some of the best attacking players in the world. But we've got some of the best centre halves in defence in the world."

"And if we can nullify their attacking players, I'd always fancy us scoring a goal against them."

England's strength in central defence, where John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate are competing for places, is balanced by an attacking threat led by Wayne Rooney [Images] and Owen.

Fuelling hopes of World Cup glory in Germany [Images], 40 years after their only previous triumph, Owen rates England's 2006 side as better than those of 2002 and 1998.

"They're such good players," he said. "The standard in training is unbelievable.

Owen would have none of the hand-wringing and questioning of mental strength that has accompanied England's recent tournament exits -- at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2004 on penalties.

"I look at things from other people's point of view. How do Spain, Italy [Images] and other teams in our bracket feel?

"It's not right for us to think we've got a deficiency because we lost a penalty shoot out.

"We think we're the only ones that exist, the only ones that can have this big disappointment and that no-one else can feel as low as we feel. But there's only one winner."

BACKING CROUCH

Owen is expected to start Saturday's game in Geneva alongside Rooney, with Peter Crouch on the substitutes' bench.

Crouch has yet to score for Liverpool since a 7.0 million pound ($12.24 million) move from Southampton in July, but Owen believes the two metre striker will prove the sceptics wrong.

"Maybe he's lacking confidence, maybe he needs a good performance or a goal.

"I get the sense that he's a lad who's maybe a little bit affected [by criticism]. Some people get used to criticism and it's water off a duck's back.

"A lot of people will be surprised when he does find the net and start playing really well," said Owen. "But there'll probably be just as many people, me included, that won't be surprised in the slightest."

Owen also had no doubts about England's need for a good display against Argentina.

"It's very important that we win and play well," he said.

"Even the performances are taking on more importance coming up to the World Cup now that we've qualified.

"Performances are important for gaining confidence individually and collectively -- and we can gauge how we are doing against one of the other favourites for the tournament."

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