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England skipper Andrew Strauss will push Ashes glory to the back of his mind when their World Cup adventure starts here today.

The series Down Under was an experience that no Englishman who took part in it will ever forget but today is the day it enters the past.

Their opponents may only be Holland, and it may only be the first of England's six games in Group B, but the goal has to be to win the World Cup for the first time when the final eventually takes place in Mumbai on April 2.

That would be an achievement to rank alongside and perhaps even surpass what England accomplished by winning a Test series in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

That does not change the fact that subliminally, at least, there must be a temptation among England's players, and fans, to regard this marathon tournament as an Ashes afterthought.

That was certainly the way they viewed the one-day series in Australia which England, bedevilled by injuries and mental tiredness, lost 6-1.

But when Strauss bounded up five flights of stairs at the stadium yesterday to address the media, he insisted England were as motivated as ever about the competition ahead.

"It isn't going to be a problem for this group of players to raise itself to the same pitch we achieved for the Ashes," Strauss said. "Not for the World Cup.

"It only happens every four years. If you are lucky, you might play in two or three in your career. You don't want to have any regrets at the end of it so I don't think that's a problem.

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"That was an accusation you could have levelled at us in the one-day series against Australia but not in the World Cup. We are up for it. We are excited. There is a good vibe and buzz about everything out here at the moment. It is a massive event and we want to do ourselves proud."

The tournament has attracted plenty of criticism because its format of two groups of seven teams, with four qualifying from each group, makes it not only more cumbersome but less likely to let an underdog force its way into the quarter-finals.

But England are in the tougher of the two groups and a slip-up against any one of Holland, Ireland or Bangladesh would risk Bangladesh qualifying for the last eight at England's expense.

That is unlikely to happen. For all the frailty they showed in the one-dayers against Australia, this is an England side still full of momentum and belief. The promotion of Kevin Pietersen to open the batting and Matt Prior's move to the middle order has reinvigorated the side and breathed a renewed sense of optimism into England's players.

Strauss said that he had taken great encouragement from last week's warm-up victory over Pakistan in Bangladesh when England returned to the aggressive style that has rewarded them so much in the past couple of years.

"It is all about confidence," Strauss said. "And we gained quite a lot of confidence out of that Pakistan game purely because it was going back to a formula that has worked for us quite well in the past."

Joint hosts India are the favourites to win with Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa all priced at lower odds than England, too.

But if Strauss and his side can find a way to make everything they achieved during the Ashes work for them rather than against them, more glory may yet await.

Watch World Cup video at www.mirror.co.uk

Labels: Andrew, Ashes, glory, Holland, Match, Mirrorcouk, Strauss

England fans can continue to watch World Cup games for free on TV – after a Fifa bid to make us pay was booted into touch yesterday.

The European Court also kicked out Uefa’s plans to make the European Championship subscription only.

Football’s governing bodies had tried to get top-level tournaments pay-per-view across Europe – arguing that live matches screened free on channels such as BBC or ITV affected their bargaining rights with TV companies.

But judges said the World Cup and European Championship were single events that cannot be divvied up at will.

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Jubilant fans yesterday declared the ruling a great victory. Football Supporters’ Federation spokesman Michael Brunskill said: “Events such as these have massive cultural importance and the idea of them being buried away on a subscription-only basis just isn’t right.

“British sport’s crown jewels, whether that’s the FA Cup final, Wimbledon or the Grand National, deserve the widest possible audience.”

The World Cup and European Championship are on Britain’s protected events list as sports of national importance. The Government yesterday said it “welcomed” the ruling. Fifa and Uefa now have two months to appeal.

Labels: Mirrorcouk, World

england fans can continue to watch World Cup games for free on TV – after a Fifa bid to make us pay was booted into touch yesterday.

The European Court also kicked out Uefa’s plans to make the European Championship subscription only.

Football’s governing bodies had tried to get top-level tournaments pay-per-view across Europe – arguing that live matches screened free on channels such as BBC or ITV affected their bargaining rights with TV companies.

But judges said the World Cup and European Championship were single events that cannot be divvied up at will.

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Jubilant fans yesterday declared the ruling a great victory. Football Supporters’ Federation spokesman Michael Brunskill said: “Events such as these have massive cultural importance and the idea of them being buried away on a subscription-only basis just isn’t right.

“British sport’s crown jewels, whether that’s the FA Cup final, Wimbledon or the Grand National, deserve the widest possible audience.”

The World Cup and European Championship are on Britain’s protected events list as sports of national importance. The Government yesterday said it “welcomed” the ruling. Fifa and Uefa now have two months to appeal.

Labels: Mirrorcouk, World

BEN YOUNGS has been named as the man Wales must stop if they are to beat England in Friday’s Six Nations opener.

The 21-year-old scrum-half starts his first championship match in a side which shows three changes from the last outing against South Africa.

Northampton flanker Tom Wood is given his debut in place of injured captain Lewis Moody, with fellow crocks Tom Croft and Courtney Lawes replaced by James Haskell and Louis Deacon respectively.

Mike Tindall, the 66-cap World Cup winner, is captain for the first time, as Mirror Sport revealed on Saturday.

But Leicester star Youngs is the chief threat, according to Dragons legend Jonathan Davies. “In this England squad Youngs is the key,” said Davies, now a BBC pundit.

“If England get on the front foot he controls the tempo of the game, he’s very clever.

“He runs into gaps, sucks defenders in, puts team-mates through holes, who then suck defenders in, then England go wide with pace.

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“England traditionally look to their fly-half to call the shots but, to my mind, Youngs has taken over as the player controlling their game.”

The Norfolk-born youngster is braced for a fierce battle with Wales No.9 Mike Phillips – and a fiery reception from the home crowd inside the Millennium Stadium.

The Welsh public have not forgotten the sight of Youngs hushing the Llanelli crowd and indicating to them to calm down after he scored a try against Scarlets in the Heineken Cup. “I did it in the heat of the moment, but I’ve learned from it,” he admitted last night. “I got told off by my mother. She told me never to do it again and I won’t.”

Youngs suspects he will have his hands full just dealing with Phillips, one of the stars of the 2009 Lions series in South Africa.

“He’s very experienced and there may be a bit of banter around the scrum, a bit of sledging,” he said. “He might try to push me around a little. I’m expecting a big physical challenge.

“But as long as you know what’s coming your way you can get yourself in the right place (mentally) not to be put off by it. I think that’s why Martin Johnson told us what we can expect at the Millennium Stadium, so no one runs on to the pitch thinking, ‘Blimey, why’s that guy doing that’ ?”

Labels: Davies, England, legend, Mirrorcouk, Wales, Youngs

ROBERT KUBICA is unlikely to race in Formula 1 this year after suffering horrifying injuries while competing in a rally in Italy on Sunday.

And a question mark hung over his entire Grand Prix career because of the nature of his injuries which smashed up the right side of his body.

Some reports said a crash barrier pierced the centre of the car and he suffered multiple fractures to his right arm, hands and leg.

The biggest concern is his partially severed right hand.

Surgeons said they had managed to save it having to be amputated but they will not even know for a week exactly whether he will get full use of it again.

Intricate operations had to be carried out to restore its blood supply.

And over Sunday night and into Monday the Renault Lotus racer was put in an induced coma to help with the recovery process.

Kubica, was set to be Renault’s lead driver for the season, starting in Bahrain in a little over a month’s time.           

Now medical staff say he is unlikely to contest any of the gruelling 20-race series.

He was trapped in the car for an hour, which is unheard of in a rally, and later  underwent a seven-hour operation at Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure.

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The accident happened just three miles after the start of the Ronde di Andora rally.

He lost control of his Super 2000 Skoda Fabia which he had been set to race a few weeks earlier at the famous Monte Carlo Rally.

Hand specialist Doctor Igor Rossello said it would take several days for doctors to assess the success of the operation.

"We need to wait for a week at least to verify whether the hand survives," he told Italian media.

"The nerve lesions are the ones that leave us with the most question marks over the recovery of functions.

“Rehabilitation will be relatively long, probably one year. “

But he added that motor racing drivers recover faster than other patients.

“Drivers are always very special patients. I have a lot of motorbike patients and they heal in a much faster way, faster than normal people."       

Kubica's co-driver Jakub Gerber was uninjured.

“After we crashed I saw Robert holding his arm, and after a few moments he lost consciousness,” he said.

Bruno Senna was tipped to be favourite to stand in for the Pole but they may now need a more senior racer is Kubica is out for the entire season.

Get more motorsport news and opinion, including driver diaries, on Mirror.co.uk's motorsport blog.

Labels: Again, Formula, Kubica, Mirrorcouk, Robert, unlikely

Andrew Strauss is certain England's historic Ashes success has not been undermined by their one-day series thrashing.

Battered and bruised England flew home from Australia with critics dismissing their chances in this month's World Cup.

After winning the Ashes 3-1 for their first triumph Down Under for 24 years, England were hammered 6-1 in the one-dayers, in which six players suffered tour-ending injuries.

But skipper Strauss said his team should be proud of what they had achieved and had nothing to beat themselves up over.

He said: "They are two different forms of the game and that Ashes victory was incredibly special and one that we'll savour forever.

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"You talk to people and they say 'great tour' even though we have just lost 6-1. "We're disappointed with the one-day results, but very happy with what we've achieved overall."

Batsman Eoin Morgan remains the biggest doubt for the World Cup with a "substantial break" to the top of the middle finger on his left hand.

"We have spoken about replacements, but we have to see what the specialist says first," said Strauss.

"There's no point in thinking too far ahead if Morgan is available."

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Labels: Andrew, England, insists, Mirrorcouk, nothing, Strauss, themselves

Chris Ashton admits he expects to be humiliated by Martin Johnson for his risky try-diving.

the two-try hero made it five strikes in just eight tests in the 26-19 win over Wales on Friday night.

But his flashy dive for the first, the ball just about clutched in his left hand, had the management wincing.

ashton said: "I have no intention of doing it, but it just comes over me in the excitement. I don't think Johnno's best pleased. But hey a try's a try. It's counted now so I'm happy.

"However, I did drop a ball doing that, for northampton at Edinburgh in the Heineken cup.

"It got knocked out of my hand, so I really won't be doing it again.

"But I know what's coming on Monday, a blast, particularly over the stupid penalty I gave away. "I was just so stupid, it was one of those things.

"I thought we were under a bit of pressure when we weren't. I tried to get through the ruck and just got my hand in the way.

"Skipper Mike tindall was furious, he came over and gave me a rollocking, and I'm sure it will be picked up on Monday.

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"If Martin feels he needs to make a point and humiliate me, then he will.

"But I don't mind, I don't get embarrassed too easily. I think I'm in credit, two tries against one penalty."

England hooker dylan Hartley threw Wales head coach Warren Gatland's barbed taunts back in his face with a measured and mature performance.

Hartley said: "It wasn't not about getting my head right, just making sure the lads were confident in me.

"to come away to a cauldron like that, we would have taken a 3-0 win. So to put those points on the board, we are very happy.

"I got a big boo when my name got read out, so I am just happy with how I played. that was the best answer to anything that was said in the build-up."

Johnson has warned his players to expect some criticism in this week's build-up to the clash against Italy on Saturday.

He said: "You don't get better by patting yourselves on the back.

"there are varied types of rollickings, but we are not going to shy away from saying 'christ, you can't do that'.

"I won't smooth over the things we didn't do well."

Labels: Ashton, Chris, expects, humiliation, Johnson, Martin, Mirrorcouk, trydive