Pele says England can win World Cup

England are good enough to win the World Cup in South Korea and Japan next year, Brazilian legend Pele said on Wednesday.

"I believe England are capable of winning the World Cup. At the very least they can reach the final," Pele, 60, was quoted as saying in the Daily Star newspaper.

"Their team has really improved ever since Sven Goran Eriksson took charge as their coach at the start of the year.

"For a long time England used to be afraid of playing proper football. They would charge forward, rather than playing a controlled game," said Pele, a member of three World Cup-winning sides with Brazil.

"But now they show far more patience in their play, and players such as Michael Owen and David Beckham could become the biggest attractions of the finals.

"I am a big fan of Owen in particular. He is not just a goalscorer but a roving striker as well, and opponents need to get at least two defenders to mark him."

England have been drawn to meet World Cup favourites Argentina, former African and Olympic champions Nigeria and hard-to-beat Sweden in group F next year.

Pele said: "England will be the greatest threat that Argentina will face."