WITH World Cup fever now gaining pace, The Evening Press' York City reporter Dave Flett nominates his quintet of most talented players produced by England.

FOOTBALL might be a team game but when it comes to winning a World Cup boasting the planet's most skilful individual can often prove decisive.

Ronaldo in 2002, Zidane in 1998 and Maradona in 1986 were all examples of how one outstanding player can propel his country to the greatest prize in football.

Prior to my birth, Pele is also credited with providing that extra element of breathtaking quality that saw his star status shine just that little bit brighter than his illustrious Brazilian peers in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

England, meanwhile, have often struggled to accommodate their most talented player of the era into the national side.

Until now, maybe. Wayne Rooney's ability demands that Sven-Goran Eriksson's team for next year's World Cup must revolve around the Manchester United striker and be tailored to his strengths.

Stuart Pearce, Peter Shilton, Gary Lineker, Michael Owen, Terry Butcher, Bryan Robson and Alan Shearer would all qualify for inclusion in any list of England greats during my football-spectating lifetime, which stretches back to 1980, but none possessed, or possess, that magical quality which renders the opposition powerless and his ten team-mates simply playing supporting roles.

Ronaldinho, unbelievably in such a highly-skilled Brazil team, assumes that position for the South American superstars and Germany 2006 could prove his playground.

But if Sven's men are to end 40 years of hurt (where did the last decade go?) then Rooney will be the driving force next summer and, for that reason, he tops my High Fives list of the most skilful players England has produced.

His performance at the European Championships in 2004 when, lest we forget, he was only 18, was exhilarating and had he not broken his foot he would no doubt have led England to their first major trophy since 1966.

Rooney's ball control, balance, instinct, strength, power, touch, movement and dribbling skills all mark him out as a potential tournament winner.

In fact, the only gripe I have with watching Rooney is that he has made one of the nation's favourite past-times - hating Manchester United - more difficult, as surely nobody can fail to admire the Croxteth-born destroyer in full flow.

Second in my list would be childhood hero Glenn Hoddle.

Observers from France and Brazil admit that their countries would have built a team around Hoddle but, puzzlingly, the sideways-skills of Ray Wilkins were normally preferred in the England midfield and even Phil Neville has won more caps than the ex-Spurs and Monaco legend.

Surely master poacher Lineker would have obliterated Bobby Charlton's international scoring record had he profited from more defence-splitting Hoddle passes and Bryan Robson could have provided the midfield discipline his more skilled contemporary was accused of lacking.

As England manager, Hoddle, sadly, could not benefit from the talents of his successor as England's most skilful player - Paul Gascoigne - at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Hoddle took the brave and shock decision to omit Gazza from his squad on the eve of the tournament having identified the former Tottenham and Newcastle United's waning fitness and ability in the face of since much-publicised lifestyle problems.

But in Italia 90, Tottenham's FA Cup run the following season and Euro 96, Gazza was inspirational and anybody who remembers those moments will wish him mental equilibrium in his life as soon as possible.

It can be no coincidence that Chris Waddle and Gazza were in the same side when England marched to the World Cup semi-finals in 1990 and should have lifted the trophy.

Waddle is often remembered for his penalty miss in Turin and that criminally overshadows a tremendous performance by the former sausage factory worker in the game.

Unbelievably, he was then repeatedly ignored by Graham Taylor for national duty despite producing the best form of his career for Marseille and Sheffield Wednesday.

Taylor selected the likes of Andy Sinton and Tony Daley instead and England missed the plane for USA 1994.

Number five in my list is Matt Le Tissier - another sad waste of talent.

Again under-used by the England establishment, Le Tissier was simply awesome for two seasons at Southampton in the mid-90s, scoring a succession of spectacular goals that surely, in terms of regularity, cannot have been matched in top-flight football.

To have your say, send your suggestions to the Sportsdesk, Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN, or email to sport@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 09:55 Tuesday, December 20, 2005