Fabio Capello has transformed England's fortunes since taking over as manager

The World Cup in South Africa is less than a year away and England are enjoying the luxury of sitting comfortably on top of their qualifying group.

A series of impressive performances have given hope that Fabio Capello's side could stand a realistic chance of success if they qualify for next summer's finals.

The Italian appears to have instilled an iron streak in a previously supine team but whether another hard season of Premier League football will take its toll remains to be seen.

Here, England's second-highest goalscorer, BBC presenter Gary Lineker, tells BBC Sport what he thinks of Capello's team and how he feels the squad will shape up for South Africa 2010.

"Who plays in goal for England at next year's World Cup is definitely one of Fabio Capello's problem positions.

I think though he will stick with current number one David James, if he can maintain his form and fitness. He is no spring chicken but I think he will be in possession of the shirt next year.

He has been a terrific goalkeeper. Yes, he makes the odd mistake but don't they all? He has got plenty of character and he always bounces back.

I think it is good that Joe Hart is going to get regular football at Birmingham, although the World Cup finals might come a bit early for him. And you perhaps wonder why Manchester City have let him go if they thought he was going to be the England keeper.

Who knows? Capello may well decide to give West Ham's Robert Green a start."

"Centre-back is a position we are traditionally strong in and if we keep Rio Ferdinand and John Terry fit then that is key to our chances.

I think Rio is probably the best central defender in the world, while John is Mr Reliable.

Ferdinand and Terry are vital to England chances in South Africa

There are question marks over who would step in if either of these two got injured but as a squad England have not got much cover anywhere and that is one of our biggest weaknesses.

But in central defence we are probably better covered than we are in other areas. We are light up front and we are light in goal but we are not too badly off at the back, with the likes of Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott in reserve.

Ledley King is very fragile and has real problems with his injuries but he is a class act and a proven international player. Keeping him fit is another matter all together though.

As for our right-back I will be interested to see how Glen Johnson gets on after his big-money move to Liverpool.

The main thing when you make a move to another club is that you get a boost to your confidence and hopefully Johnson will do that and get regular football."

"England's midfield conundrum has long since been how to play Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard together in the same team.

As a partnership it hasn't really worked when it has just been the two of them in the middle because they are both very forward-thinking players. When one of them has to hang back it has never been ideal.

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Yet, Capello has achieved far more success with them than past England managers have as he has played Gareth Barry as a holding player. I think that probably releases the two of them, with one playing slightly to the left.

They are both world class and you have to try to fit great players in your team because English world-class players are hard to find.

I think David Beckham will be a key player for us in South Africa - but only as long as he is playing in one of the big leagues as he needs the opportunity to impress Capello.

If he is playing in America it is too much to expect him to turn it on at a World Cup.

There is a possibility that he could be used as more than just an impact substitute but we all know when you get into your thirties things start to go backwards and it will be no different for him.

But, as we know, he is a player that has never relied on pace, he has relied on technical ability and that is not going to diminish.

If he stays fit he is definitely one of the best 22 players in the country, that is for sure.

Another player who has a big season ahead of him is Joe Cole.

He has been out since January, so it will be good see him when he is fully fit as he is a top-quality performer and we need more of those if we are going to have a chance."

"Wayne Rooney is the sort of player you want at the hub of everything as he is one of the great players of world football.

He has brilliant positional sense, is a terrific all-round player and it is absolutely key that he is there for England.

Manchester United's Owen is targeting an England recall

Like most of you I'm sure, I'm intrigued by how Michael Owen will get on in Manchester United's colours.

The one thing we know about Owen is that he can score goals, he has got 40 of them for England and if he can get fit and sharp for Capello then that is a massive bonus.

You look at our strikers and think, 'we haven't got a lot up there'. We have decent strikers but no great ones, with the exception of Owen and Rooney.

The former Liverpool man will be playing at United, where he will get plenty of decent service and I expect him to score goals.

Elsewhere, I think Jermain Defoe has done okay, he is a good little striker and his new Tottenham team-mate Peter Crouch also gives you a different kind of option."

"Who knows whether we will win the World Cup but, in Fabio Capello, we have definitely got someone in charge who will make a difference.

We needed to re-establish some discipline, both on and off the pitch, and he has clearly done that.

Before it was all a bit haphazard and a lot of influence had come from outside. He has got them together and being in fear of the manager never did a team any harm."

"Spain will be the strong favourites as they are a class above the rest of world football at the moment.

Having watched them and their brilliant little midfielders, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, along with Fernando Torres and David Villa up front, they are going to take some beating.

Aside from that I feel it will be the usual suspects like Brazil and Argentina and from Europe, Italy and possibly France.

England will always have a chance but we need a good draw and our best players fit. It's going to be an interesting year, that's for sure."

Gary Lineker was talking to BBC Sport's Paul Birch

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