World Cup: England have no chance in 2002 - Houllier

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has written off England's chances of winning the World Cup in Japan and South Korea next year.

Liverpool provide several key members of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad - including Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler.

But Houllier doubts whether the national squad squad has the experience to lift the World Cup.

He said: "If you ask me whether England can win the World Cup in the summer my answer would be 'no'.

"You need experience and you need another two years to get to the top."

England will qualify for next year's finals if they defeat Greece in their decisive qualifier at Old Trafford on Saturday.

However, Houllier believes it will be in Germany in 2006 when England have a real chance of lifting the trophy.

"Sven has a vision and is taking the team somewhere, I can feel that," he said.

"But England's problem is the bulk of their good players are in that young age group, 17 to 23, so if you ask me whether they can win the World Cup in the summer, my answer would be 'no, they don't have a chance'.

"But wait until 2004 and 2006, then you will see the height of this generation. You have every chance of winning tournaments then.

"Getting to this World Cup is an important milestone, just for experience - because building that wins World Cups."