FORMER England star Darren Anderton is backing Fabio Capello’s boys to bring home the World Cup – and is desperate to see the Three Lions erase the memory of his German heartbreak.

Anderton, who played out his illustrious career with Cherries before retiring in 2008, admits he is still haunted by England’s agonising semi-final exit at the hands of the old enemy during Euro 96.

He played a starring role as Terry Venables’s men reached the last four and also hit the post against the Germans before Gareth Southgate’s missed penalty saw them bow out at Wembley.

Anderton, who was capped 30 times between 1994 and 2001, is convinced England can overcome Germany in the second phase tomorrow – before going on to emerge victorious in South Africa.

He told the Daily Echo: “We are capable of winning the tournament, even though we haven’t really got going yet. The group games were a little disappointing but all the other matches have shown just how tough international football is.

“We could have played better and we knocked the ball too long in the first two games. But we saw just how goals can change games. America’s freak goal drained the team of all their confidence in the first game and we looked like world beaters after Jermain Defoe had scored against Slovenia.

“I think the draw against Germany suits us because expectations will not be as high and the team will be able to go out and play. It should be quite an open game. It will be different from the group games because we had to break down the opposition and that is the hardest thing to do.”

Anderton, who also lined up in the 1998 World Cup in France, added: “I thought Germany were unbelievable in their first game but didn’t know whether that was down to Australia being poor. They had a man harshly sent off in their second game and then beat a decent Ghana team.

“Germany are a good team all round and it’s going to be tough. I think we have got better players than them but the Germans are the Germans and, unfortunately, they get the job done. If we perform well, we will beat them.

“There have been so many bizarre twists and turns and it’s quite nice to be playing a team you know a lot about. I think that will suit us and I’m glad we went through in second place.”

Anderton will watch events unfold in Bloemfontein at a barbecue with friends in London. Since hanging up his boots, he has spent time travelling and penning his autobiography.

“I’ve had to go over Euro 96 for the book and it has been a nightmare,” said the 37-year-old. “They were incredible times. Terry Venables had us playing like a top international team. We passed and kept the ball and had more possession than Germany. We deserved to win the game and got beaten on penalties which was heartbreaking.

“There are times in your career when you look at your team-mates and think “what a team this is!”. I would imagine the England boys are doing that now and that counts for a lot.”