England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has reiterated the importance of an extra week of preparation in the build up to this summer's World Cup in Germany.

Several Barclays Premiership managers criticised a packed programme of fixtures over the festive period.

The Premier League claimed the extra week needed by Eriksson's England squad was the reason for the busy schedule.

Eriksson believes the benefit will be felt in Germany, and told the League Managers' Association website that lessons had to be learned after quarter-final exits at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

"The biggest lesson is that we must have one more week of preparation," said Eriksson.

"In England, the domestic season begins but never stops, with no break at all, so we found that in the second half of matches in Japan and Portugal our players were tired.

"In 2002 and 2004 we had only three weeks of preparation, but for the 2006 World Cup we will have four weeks.

"FIFA have instructed all countries on this issue and I appreciate that very much. The extra week will be very important to us."

Eriksson has confirmed David Beckham will lead his side into the finals, despite the leadership qualities of John Terry and Steven Gerrard.

"Beckham will be England's captain in Germany and I will not even discuss anyone else.

"He is calm in the dressing room and when he talks, people listen. That's good.

"But you must also remember that we have many captains in our team: John Terry is a good leader who is captain of Chelsea, Steven Gerrard is captain of Liverpool... and so on.

"I think you will see the best of Beckham in Germany. He has been playing well for Real Madrid and I think a lot of our players will prepare themselves to play really well next summer."

Eriksson believes England are one of the leading contenders to win the tournament and expects the country to go "mad" if his team pull it off.

"I think we are one of six or seven teams who could win it. England are at the same level as teams like Argentina, Brazil, Holland, Italy, Germany and France. Then you also need a little bit of luck; no injuries and penalty shoot-outs are all-important. We have a very good team.

"The fans have dreamt about it for nearly 40 years and a lot of people now think we might have a chance to win something.

"It is extremely difficult to win a World Cup. That is why England have not been doing it. England have got to one final, which they won at home, and one semi-final, so it's very difficult.

"But all our players saw what happened when England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The team went to Trafalgar Square in London and hundreds of thousands of people came to cheer them. This country will go mad - beautifully mad - if we win the 2006 World Cup."