Terry Butcher's England view

Terry Butcher Former England captain and Five Live summariser

Butcher is tipping Rooney (right) to shine

England will win their World Cup quarter-final against Portugal in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday - by 2-0 and with both goals from Wayne Rooney.

It's a specific prediction, and I'll settle for getting the score wrong, but I am very confident that England will reach the last four of the World Cup.

I think England will improve and show more of their real character on Saturday because the opposition is the best quality they have faced.

That may sound strange, because the assumption is that you are likely to play better against inferior opposition.

I don't subscribe to that. Poor teams don't do the things you would normally expect. They don't come out and have a go at you, but I fully expect Portugal to do that and it will suit Sven-Goran Eriksson's side.

England have better players than Portugal in key positions. I have been very critical of England's performances, but that's all gone now and we must look forward.

They have been poor, but they have played poor opposition and not been pushed to their limit. The tempo will be good against Portugal and this will be right up England's street.

I believe Eriksson will stick with the formation he played against Ecuador, with the fit-again Gary Neville replacing Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves returning to midfield and Wayne Rooney operating alone up front.

I think England can trouble Portugal at set-pieces

Neville has been out for three games, but his experience will be vital and he also helps bring the best out of David Beckham.

England will have Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Hargreaves matching up against Maniche, Armando Petit and maybe Luis Figo.

Rooney's due a goal as well, having not scored in the World Cup finals or the qualifiers. He will feel the benefit of getting 90 minutes under his belt against Ecuador and his runs will trouble Portugal, along with those of Lampard and Gerrard.

I also think England can trouble Portugal at set-pieces with their height and strength, because Portugal are not a particularly big team.

Lampard has come in for a little criticism, with people saying he has not been playing well, but he has still been making those same runs, passes and getting chances, and surely the goals will come eventually.

They have quality in Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo - but I still back England

If he keeps doing what he is doing, he can and will score.

England will obviously have to beware a very talented Portugal side. They keep the ball well and are a very good passing side.

They have quality in Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, but I still back England to come through.

I have said all along that the only team England need fear is themselves if they don't go out with the right approach, and I don't believe that will happen in Gelsenkirchen.

There is also the pressure of the World Cup quarter-final to contend with. You are two games away from the final and it can gnaw away at you.

You can be so close and end up so far away.

But I am backing England to win and Rooney to make his big goalscoring impact on this World Cup.