Capello targets 2010 World Cup final

"I think I can take England further than Bobby Robson in 1990, why not?" he said. "I have always worked to arrive at the top, why should I think differently? "I have been with Roma, Juventus, Milan, Real Madrid and always wanted to go to the very top. I don't understand why people feel differently. We need to be ambitious.

"We have good material here and have been competitive against every team. My ambition is to arrive at the top. You have to work to change the mentality.

"I believe we can do that but the players must also believe. By September I will have the full picture." The first step towards that comes against the US. England beat them 2-1 in Chicago three years ago, but earlier defeats still haunt English memories.

A 1-0 defeat in Belo Horizonte in 1950 still represents England's most embarrassing reverse in a World Cup, while a 2-0 defeat in Foxboro in 1993 confirmed the decline of Graham Taylor's England.

Rather than looking to those games, though, Capello is encouraged by the success of English teams in European competition and specifically the fact that nine players of his squad were involved in last week's Champions League final, in which Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties.

"England had two teams in the Champions League Final and they are ambitious teams," he said. "You have to transmit the same ambitions in the England team.

"When a player puts on the England shirt you have to play with a certain kind of spirit and that is very important.

With the US ranked 21st in the world, Capello is expecting a tough test. "The United States are a good team," he said.

"In the last three games they have scored seven goals and won the last two against Poland and Sweden. They drew against Mexico and I think it will be a good test for us.

Michael Owen has withdrawn from the squad with a virus, while Jermaine Jenas has an ankle injury.

Capello admitted a concern that his players may be tired after a long season, but insisted he would be making no allowances.

"They are a strong national team and it is not easy to play against them at the moment because they have fresh legs and we are tired. But that is not an excuse.

"I will play the first eleven who I think are the best players at the moment," he said.