• World Cup

England will not win in Brazil - Scholes

Scholes was part of England's Euro 2004 squad that reached the quarter-finals in Portugal © PA Photos

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Former England midfielder Paul Scholes believes Roy Hodgson's men have "no chance" of winning the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

Scholes, who won 66 caps for his country between 1997 and 2004, scoring 14 goals, said England's main problem heading into the World Cup will be their lack of pedigree at beating historically established teams in the knockout rounds of tournaments.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph in a joint interview with former team-mate and England coach Gary Neville, Scholes said: "Gary can't really say we have no chance, but I'll say it if you want.

"It will be very difficult to win. I know we have some decent players to go with Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, but as a team, are they going to be good enough when you think about it? You will have to get past Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Germany and Chile, who have just come onto the scene.

"I always get the impression that, whenever England come up against a big nation like those, it is usually a signal that we are going to go out. They're OK against the Polands and Ukraines - England will beat them all day long - but as soon as a top team comes along? Well... 

"Whenever England come up against a proper team, you always feel as though they are going to get knocked out. I've not seen anything different that will change my mind now. I know you have your Daniel Sturridges and Danny Welbecks and Tom Cleverleys, but if you look at the other teams, they have the likes of Messi, Neymar, Tevez, Aguero. And we haven't even mentioned the likes of Xavi and Iniesta with Spain."

"It would be unbelievable [if England won the World Cup], but realistically? It's not going to happen for a while is it?"

Neville, meanwhile, believes England are under no pressure to win the World Cup. Click here for the full story.

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