Saturday Interview: 'Red mist' over Rooney could work wonders for England

Expectation that has been bubbling for months has reached boiling point.

The media and fans have built England up or played down their chances, analysing to the finest detail everything from Gareth Barry's ankle to Theo Walcott's omission.

Imagine then how the England players must feel, if the expectation has been too much to bare for the rest of us.

Rattling around their Rustenburg retreat for the last week, they have occupied themselves with training sessions and safaris, doing everything possible to focus on the job in hand and not get carried away by the rhetoric of the build-up.

It is not an easy task for a player with time on his hands and a place in sporting history beckoning, as Danny Mills will testify.

The former Leeds United defender endured the same tension-filled pre-amble to a World Cup eight years ago, when he was a member of the 23-man England squad twiddling their thumbs and itching to get started in South Korea and Japan.

"The last week of training you're just desperate to get the tournament under way," reflected the 33-year-old, whose 19 England caps included every minute of the five matches England contested in the 2002 tournament.

"Everybody has done the hard training and the preparation, making sure that come the first game of the tournament you are fresh and raring to go.

"That final week is about keeping the focus, and keeping a check on the nerves."

That England's group in South Africa is so winnable only heightens the pressure and expectation, and ultimately the acceptance that any shortcomings or failings will be scrutinised and lambasted by the media.

"The media hype around England goes from the sublime to the ridiculous," said Mills, who himself will be attempting to keep his emotions on an even keel as a pundit for BBC 5Live at games around the Rainbow Nation.

"There's never any middle ground with the media.

"We had that expectation to deal with in 2002 when we were placed in that infamous 'group of death'.

"Sweden, although they aren't in South Africa, are always a strong team and difficult to beat, Argentina are one of the best teams in the world and Nigeria had the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and company.

"Five points was enough for us to qualify in 2002. Two draws and a win, as a general rule, usually sees you through to the knockout stages."

England's less-than-impressive performances in the three warm-up matches has done little to dampen expectation, with the the talk focusing more on Wayne Rooney's petulance rather than the lack of shape the team appears to have.

Much rests on the shoulders of Rooney, and for Mills, the red mist that descends on England's predator can work to their advantage.

"Rooney plays on the edge – that's what makes him a great player," Mills observed.

"He's like a caged lion almost.

"You have got to keep him in check but let him be who he is.

"That's what makes him a great player. Take that away and you lose what makes him tick."

Capello's reign began with Mills still a professional footballer, but the Norfolk-born defender was forced to concede defeat in his battle against a knee injury in August 2009.

After a few months off to take stock, the former Hull City full-back has stepped up his media work and is also a charity worker, raising awareness and funds for the Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH), the disease that claimed the life of his son Archie at birth.

Being someone who has experienced what it takes to compete at the highest international level, he knows that the comments he and his colleagues impart on England and Capello this month will be water off the Italian's back.

"Fabio couldn't care less about what the press, the media or the fans think," Mills said.

"He will play it his way. It might not be pretty, it might be boring at times, but he has a history of winning trophies and he knows that unless you're a vintage Brazil side you don't win a World Cup playing extravagant, goalscoring football, you win it like the Germans."

Germany are potential second-round opponents for England, if Capello's men can get the five points Mills believes will see them through to the knockout phase. With easier games like Algeria and Slovenia to come in Group C, ensuring they do not lose their World Cup opener against a well-organised United States is crucial.

Mills said: "No game in a World Cup is ever easy, but the United States are particularly very tough opponents.

"The Americans will be up for this, it is a big opportunity for them and good chance for them to qualify from their group and then progress to the knockout stages.

"They've done well before, particularly in 2002, but were handed the group of death in Germany and were slightly unlucky. As a side they've never had three or four world-class players, but as a team they play a lot better than they should when you look at them on paper.

"They're well organised, they've got players that can score goals.

"Scores are more often than not very low, either one or two goals in it, so it will be tight today.

"I would still expect us to win but if England aren't quite at full tilt we'll be in trouble.

"So England have to be positive today but wary that they do not throw caution to the wind."