Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon says Fabio Capello's England is a real threat to Italy's World Cup defence.

Buffon said: "I don't think there is any doubt that England have the players to win the World Cup.

"When you have players like Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand you will always have a chance, but unless you have a manager that has the mentality to win a World Cup then you will only go so far.

"England have always had great players, but perhaps they have not always had the manager who has a strong enough personality to deal with major personalities and who has the mentality to win a World Cup.

"They now have that manager, and that has to put them among the favourites.

"Of course we will be looking to keep the trophy, and I think Spain and England will be the two teams to watch.

"As I said, England have always had a good team, but now with their manager we will be taking them more seriously than we ever have before."