England are geographically half a world away from the 2002 World Cup. In football terms, they are half a universe away from winning it.

David Beckham, England's captain, has said "we don't want to go there as underdogs" and, given the Korean liking for canine cuisine, this seems a prudent ambition.

Yet, even as Beckham's stoppage-time free-kick secured the point against Greece which enabled Sven-Goran Eriksson's team to avoid a play-off for qualification, now Germany's lot against Ukraine, it was difficult to regard England's role potential as anything stronger than dark horses dappled with grey.

This afternoon's friendly against Sweden at Old Trafford will not provide many clues as to what might happen next summer.

An England team without Steven Gerrard is no more likely to offer some early World Cup indicators than a Sweden side lacking Henrik Larsson.

And, though Michael Owen was declared fit yesterday after another hamstring niggle, he will probably play only 45 minutes.

That said, an encounter with opponents similar in style and outlook is no bad way for Eriksson to begin the process of finalising his World Cup squad of 22.

In this context, the international possibilities of Liverpool's hitherto uncapped Danny Murphy should be given a useful test this afternoon. He looks like playing on the left of midfield unless Eriksson has him earmarked to take Gerrard's place in the centre, which could in turn see Darren Anderton recalled on the flank.

The fact that only two other warm-up matches have been arranged (Holland and Italy in February and March) with probably no more than two to follow (against South American opposition in April with a final rehearsal in Korea) means that Eriksson's chances to experiment will be limited.

Losing Gerrard for today's game, on top of the absences of David Seaman, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, has cost England's coach one opportunity of beginning the countdown to the World Cup with a settled side.