Danny Mills (right) - came of age said Grip. (Allsport)

By John Curtis, PA Sport, Shizuoka

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Tord Grip has insisted the current England side is still "a long way" from reaching its peak.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's right-hand man believes England can take plenty of positives from the way they performed during the 2002 World Cup finals despite the woeful second-half fade-out in the quarter-final defeat by Brazil.

The massive rise in stature of centre-back Rio Ferdinand, the emergence of stand-in midfielder Nicky Butt and the promising display of replacement right-back Danny Mills and Ashley Cole have all given Grip cause for optimism.

But the Swede knows there is still much more in terms of development and improvement to come from the current crop of players.

Only central defender Martin Keown, who has announced his retirement from international football, striker Teddy Sheringham and goalkeeper David Seaman are unlikely to be around for the European Championship finals in Portugal in 2004.

Grip said: "There is not complete satisfaction with the way we played in Japan and we were a little disappointed with the way we played in the final 45 minutes against Brazil when it was 11 versus 10.

"We know how to play and how to perform as a team although in some games we didn't perform for the full 90 minutes. An example is the second half of the first game against Sweden.

"But I can say that a lot of players have really come of age in this tournament - the likes of Cole, Mills, Ferdinand and Butt to name but four.

"The good thing is that this side has still to reach its peak. You need to be in the period aged from 28 to 32 for that happen so we have some years to go yet.

"Maybe that will be the case for the 2004 European Championships. I hope that will be the case."

Midfielder Kieron Dyer echoed Grip's sentiments and said: "In two years' time, we will be older, wiser and better players. The Beckhams, Scholes and Butts will be at their peak.

"By that time I am sure we will be going into the competition as one of the favourites. We are going from strength to strength.

"There has been a problem position on the left and Trevor Sinclair has been a revelation. Owen Hargreaves has also developed.

"He had his critics after his first game against Holland and has come on really strongly since then.

"Then there are people like Ashley Cole, Danny Mills and Rio Ferdinand who have done really well. There are so many pluses. It all bodes well for the future."

Goalkeeper Nigel Martyn, who will be a strong candidate to replace Seaman if he does hang up his international gloves, said: "The players will use this experience as a big positive.

"The talk is already of the 2004 European Championships and the 2006 World Cup and that's the target now for the majority of the squad."

Defender Sol Campbell said: "This is a bit harder to take than France '98 because we were so close and we can see what the next draw is for the semi-finals but there is a lot of talent in this squad."