Former Manchester United and Aston Villa boss Ron Atkinson says England will NEVER win the World Cup again.

Big Ron wrote in the Daily Star Sunday: "We'll never win the World Cup again.

"I've been saying that for a long time, too. Since the turn of the ­millennium everyone has talked about the golden generation of English ­football.

"But I have never subscribed to that. I've always thought we have had some excellent ­players. Some super midfielders. Decent defenders.

"But we have always lacked front players in the modern era. The only chance we have ever had was in 2004 at the European Championships in ­Portugal.

"And the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"We needed Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney to be at their maximum. But we have had many sub-standard strikers since then."