England's stand-in captain Michael Owen believes England can put their World Cup heartache behind them by challenging for the 2004 European Championship in Portugal.

Saturday's friendly at Villa Park, fittingly against the 2004 hosts, provides England with their first chance to put behind them the disappointment of their World Cup quarter final defeat at the hands of Brazil.

Owen, who replaces David Beckham as England captain against Portugal, believes the rehabilitation process starts at Villa Park on Saturday.

He said: "I've not watched the video of the Brazil game. I don't think I've watched a video of any game I have played in.

"Now we want to go on from there and I think we can do well in the 2004 European Championships, although I think everyone will really come into their prime for the 2006 World Cup.

"We have to be positive and it is important we test ourselves every time we come together - and Portugal will certainly test us.

"In the World Cup they had a couple of very good performances and a couple of not so good performances.

"Let's hope they produce a not so good one on Saturday.

"But everyone knows that individually they are very good players and to play against players like that is going to bring us on as a team and a group of players."

Owen is desperate to get back among the goals at Villa Park having netted only once this season - the goal coming from the penalty spot against Newcastle on Monday.

But after missing much of last season because of injury, Owen insists he is fresh and ready to get among the goals again.

"I felt good during the World Cup," said Owen.

"It was only in the Denmark game where I felt something and had to come off at half-time and then against Brazil I was carrying a slight injury into the game.

"But now I'm feeling fine.

"It takes me time to really get back into things after an injury.

"In the first few games I will be quiet and maybe not even get many chances.

"But usually the sign of me coming back is when I'm starting to get a lot of chances and am maybe even missing them to start with.

"The next step is that I'll go on a run of scoring a lot of goals - and I'm hoping that's the step I'm about to take now."