Fabio Capello targets the World Cup Final for Three Lions.

Fabio Capello wants England to hit the ground running if he is to achieve his dream of taking them to the World Cup Final.

Capello says his target is to play in the Final in South Africa this summer, ideally after beating his Italian countrymen on the way, but knows that the way England start will be of massive importance.

England face the USA in Rustenburg on June 12, and Capello, speaking at an event organised by England sponsors Nationwide Building Society, said: “To get a result in the first game is so important.

"If you win the first game and get three points, it is really good for the team psychologically and also for the group table.

“I know that the first game against the USA will be a real tough game because the pressure will be very high. It won’t be an easy start to the tournament for us but I am sure that we will go forward.”

And he revealed that his ambition is to at least reach the Final. “The biggest challenge is to play in the Final. For me that is the target, my dream – but I hope it will not be just a dream.”

That could mean England playing a semi-final against Italy, the country Capello played for in the 1974 World Cup. “A semi-final is possible. My dream is to play the Final and to beat Italy in the semi-final. The target is the Final.”

Capello is fully aware of the pressure England are under to win for the first time since 1966, but says it is a similar story for many others. “The pressure is on England because it is a long time since we made the Final and became champions, but the pressure is high in every country because they all want their team to win the World Cup.”

Click here to watch the full interview with Fabio Capello.