Gianfranco Zola has backed his English players to continue their push for a place in Fabio Capello's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa through maintaining their form for West Ham United.
Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole have all featured regularly in England's successful qualifying campaign but they, along with the likes of Mark Noble and Scott Parker, will be all too aware of the fierce competition that awaits to secure a place in Capello's final 23-man squad. Zola has emphasised how important it is that they continue to perform well at club level.
"They know that Capello will be looking for them in the season and the way they perform for their clubs," Zola said. "That is a vey good point for me as they know they have to perform well if they want to be there.
"The competition they have in front is tough but that is the good point about that. You have to be competitive in this world and have to be focused to do that. They know the reality is that and they are good boys and they will fight and play their best football."
West Ham's English contingent may next get a chance to impress in an England jersey in the slightly different setting of a friendly game with Brazil in Qatar on 14 November. If Capello does choose to once again call on their services, Zola believes they will be there on merit based on how they have performed over the past 12 months.
"They are good enough - if not they wouldn't be there. This country has a lot of people that can play in the national team. You see up front England has got so many options and also at the back. If they are in then that means they are good.
"They all deserve that for what they did last year and what they have been doing so far and it is down to them to keep doing that for as long as possible."
Like Green and Cole, Upson will have an idea of who his rivals are for a place in the squad and he will have to overcome some serious competition from the likes of captain John Terry and former Hammer Rio Ferdinand. But after impressive performances in four qualifiers and three friendlies on the way to England securing a place at the finals, Zola is certain Upson has the all the qualities needed to win a place in the heart of the England defence.
"I think Capello knows exactly what is going on and they will choose the best couple that will do the job. Matthew Upson has to keep performing for West Ham as he has been for the past year. If he does well Capello will notice that.
"I would be very happy for Upson [if he played] as he focuses a lot on the national team and he deserves the best. It's down to the manager and I would love to see England on a run winning games more than anything."