Is it now or never for England?

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David Beckham will be 35 next summer, but it is looking increasingly likely he will be a member of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad. Ian Kingston/AFP/Getty Images Our Predicted England World Cup Squad Pos. Player Club G Robert Green West Ham G David James Portsmouth G Ben Foster Manchester United D John Terry Chelsea D Rio Ferdinand Manchester United D Ashley Cole Chelsea D Glen Johnson Liverpool D Matthew Upson West Ham D Joleon Lescott Manchester City D Wayne Bridge Manchester City D Phil Jagielka Everton M Frank Lampard Chelsea M Steven Gerrard Liverpool M Gareth Barry Manchester City M Joe Cole Chelsea M Owen Hargreaves Manchester United M Aaron Lennon Tottenham Hotspur M David Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy F Wayne Rooney Manchester United F Emile Heskey Aston Villa F Peter Crouch Tottenham Hotspur F Jermain Defoe Tottenham Hotspur F Theo Walcott Arsenal

Team Limey was basking in an unfamiliar relaxed state leading up to this week's final round of World Cup qualifiers, as its beloved England team safely qualified at the beginning of September with two games to spare.

That marked a drastic change from some of the nail-biting, angst-ridden, stress-inducing recent qualification (or lack of) experiences. Two of many that spring to mind are the "Wally with the Brolly" on the touch line as we failed miserably against Croatia in qualification for Euro 2008, and David Beckham's free-kick heroics against Greece that sneaked us into Japan/Korea 2002.

It has been all change in the England set-up in the 18 months since Fabio Capello took charge. Not just in the improvement in performances or in the ease of tournament qualification, or indeed, in the variety of facial hair that's been adorning Beckham's face (topped off with the Grizzly Adams number he sported against Belarus on Wednesday).

As soon as he walked through the door, Capello made his intentions clear with how he wanted things done. Gone was the use of cell phones, video games and the presence of WAGs while on international duty. In was the militarized wearing of team suits or track suits during meal times, and a wholesale change in the relationship between manager and players.

Contrast the manner in which former boss Steve McClaren would glean the smallest of plaudits from the most unimpressive of results, and the matey, almost awestruck treatment of the players, referring to them by their tabloidal nicknames, "JT," "Wazza," "Stevie G" and "Becks."

Despite defeating Belarus 3-0 on Wednesday, Capello was still critical in the performance and demanded improvement. After the game, the Italian veteran remarked that Beckham's being awarded Man of the Match for his 30-minute (admittedly highly effective) cameo was "like Obama winning the Nobel Prize after nine months as President." Quite the far cry from the matey approach adopted by McClaren.

So the players know who the boss is, but does the boss know the players who will be joining him on the plane to South Africa next June? With only five friendly matches between now and the World Cup in which to directly work with his squad, Capello will have to rely heavily on players' form in the Premier League this season. The Italian refuses to tip his hand.

"I have to check next April what the situation is," he told reporters. "Sometimes at the start of the season, the players are good. At the end of the season, they are tired. It is impossible to speak now about 23 players who will be with us in South Africa."

Despite the impressive qualifying campaign, with 56 different players used in his squads and with mistakes and potential weaknesses creeping into the last couple of qualifying matches, Capello has plenty of food for thought ahead of next summer.

Goalkeeper is possibly one of the most up-for-grabs positions. It's safe to say Ben Foster, David James and Robert Green will be the three goalkeepers in South Africa, barring exceptional seasons from Paul Robinson at Blackburn or Joe Hart at Birmingham City. However, those three keepers all have their issues.

At the beginning of the season, Foster was hailed by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson as England's long-term solution. After Foster's numerous gaffes and indifferent performances for the Red Devils, Sir Alex has been noticeably quiet in his praise for the 26-year-old. James, arguably the most technically accomplished of the three, will be nearly 40 at the World Cup. Green, who once wore a pair of gloves adorned with the words "England's No. 5" after being consistently overlooked, became the first keeper to be sent off while on England duty in last Saturday's qualifying defeat away to Ukraine, denying him a golden opportunity to impress Capello.