DOHA: Wayne Rooney believes a glamour friendly with Brazil here on Saturday will provide a measure of how much work England have to do if they are to lift the World Cup next year.

Rooney, who became a father for the first time last week, insists Fabio Capello's much-improved squad have earned the right to be considered serious contenders in South Africa after an impressive qualifying campaign.

But the Manchester United forward's optimism is tempered by realism about how tough it will be to come out on top in a tournament featuring the European champions Spain and the five-times winners that England will take on at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday evening.

"Of course we are in with a chance," Rooney said. "But there is a lot of hard work to do yet and there is a lot of improving that we have to do if we are going to win it.

"Our results have been better in qualification than they have in friendlies.

"We did beat Germany (2-1 in November 2008) but Brazil are number one in the world and this is a massive game for us. We need to play some good football if we are going to win."

Rooney's son, Kai Wayne, was born on November 2nd but the striker never considered exercising his right to paternity leave, revealing that he had pleaded with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to be allowed to start United's Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow 24 hours after the birth.

"I don't feel any different to be honest," he said. "I just want to play. Before the CSKA match I went to see the manager and asked if I could play. To be honest, I thought he was going to play me and I only found out I was sub just before the match."

England will be significantly below full-strength against Brazil with first-choice full-backs, Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole, Rooney's United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and goalkeeper David James all ruled out by injury.

The absence of Gerrard in particular will increase the pressure on Rooney to create openings for whoever plays up front alongside him.

Capello has generally sought to pair Rooney with a powerful centre-forward with Aston Villa's Emile Heskey -- who is also injured at the moment -- his first choice for the role.

But Saturday's match could see Jermain Defoe given an opportunity to prove his guile, pace and finishing ability can make him just as effective a foil for England's leading striker, despite his smaller stature.

The Tottenham forward missed England's last two qualifiers, against the Ukraine and Belarus, with a hand injury and has yet to start a game for his country in 2009.

"It was frustrating to miss out through injury last time and when you get an opportunity, you have got to take it," Defoe said. "You have to make an impact.

"I don't want to have the title of super-sub but when you don't start it is important you try and make an impression when you come off the bench.

"I haven't started a game for England in 2009 and if the first one was against Brazil it would be special because they are the side that everyone wants to play against."