Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou hopes the Ivory Coast find themselves in the same group as England in Friday's World Cup draw.
Kalou, along with prolific club and country team-mate Didier Drogba, will spearhead the African nation's challenge in South Africa next summer.
The 24-year-old would like to face Chelsea team-mates John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole and believes England are capable of winning the World Cup.
"I've talked about drawing England with Didier and we agreed it would be nice to play them. They are a top team," said Kalou, speaking at the SCORE4africa awards.
"I think England can win the World Cup because they have good players. They can make an impact.
"England are playing better now. They have a coach in Fabio Capello who is very hard on the players.
"The coach makes them respect everything and you need that sometimes in football because it's the little things that make the difference.
"It would be good to play against Cole, Lampard and Terry. It would be a little bit weird to play against them, but that's football."
The 24-year-old would like to face Chelsea team-mates John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole and believes England are capable of winning the World Cup.
"I've talked about drawing England with Didier and we agreed it would be nice to play them. They are a top team," said Kalou, speaking at the SCORE4africa awards.
"I think England can win the World Cup because they have good players. They can make an impact.
"England are playing better now. They have a coach in Fabio Capello who is very hard on the players.
"The coach makes them respect everything and you need that sometimes in football because it's the little things that make the difference.
"It would be good to play against Cole, Lampard and Terry. It would be a little bit weird to play against them, but that's football."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
World Cup favourites England have one gaping question left to answer
Rampant England reach Women's Euros final
