Cole hoping to rule the world

Cole: In confident mood

Ashley Cole claims there will be no excuses if England fail to land World Cup glory in South Africa.

Fabio Capello's side are virtually guaranteed to be gracing football's showpiece event next year, having made impressive progress through qualifying.

Maximum points from their five games so far has led them to the top of Group 6, while victories over Kazakhstan and Andorra in their next two fixtures will leave them on the brink of confirming their progress.

With confidence restored to a squad which suffered the indignity of failing to reach Euro 2008, England will now be among the favourites to taste global glory in 2010.

Chelsea full-back Cole feels that tag would be justified and believes the Three Lions are capable of conquering the world.

"The ambition has to be to win," he said.

"Before so many World Cups and Championships you do interviews and you say, 'oh, we have a good chance'. But it's always the same - we lose in the quarter-final."

England have crashed out at the last-eight stage in each of their last three appearances at major championships, 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004, but Cole is confident they can rectify that problem next summer.

"We'll go there with 100 per cent focus on winning. And if we don't win, then we've let everyone down," he added.

"We have the squad and the players to do it but you need a little bit of luck as well sometimes. And hopefully, if we get that on our side, we can make the whole country proud of us."

Speaking to Sky Sports' FIFA Futbol Mundial programme, Cole also praised Capello for the impact he has made on a rejuvenated England side.

"Mr Capello has come in and straight away has got the respect of everyone," he said.

"He has won a lot in his career and he is someone you don't want to mess with.

"He has changed a lot - the way we eat and the way we train - which is always going to benefit players."