The manner in which England beat Germany 2-1 in Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night fuelled the feelgood factor which has marked the Italian's first year at Soho Square.

Capello's men sit proudly at the top of their World Cup qualifying group after four straight wins and look all but certain to book their place in South Africa in 2010.

It is a far cry from the abject failure to reach Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren but Megson said: "I think everybody expects us to qualify for the World Cup and at the moment everything is looking really good.

"But it's entirely different when the actual competition starts.

"First and foremost, we have to get away from what the media do and look too far ahead.

"We have to qualify first and then see where we are in two years."

Despite such caution, Megson is enthusiastic about the depth and quality of Capello's squad.

With a number of regulars such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard missing in Berlin, Capello opted for a youthful side.

And despite England needing a late John Terry winner after Germany's Patrick Helmes had equalised Matthew Upson's opener, his faith was rewarded as his players largely dominated throughout.

Fringe men such as Upson, Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson enhanced their claims for future inclusion with impressive performances.

Michael Carrick and Gareth Barry dominated the midfield and Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor made a hugely promising debut up front.

Megson added: "There are a lot of good players in this country and there always have been.

"We want a team and we'll get the best players in that team, and if someone who is really top class has to go on the bench then so be it.

"It's about a team, not about getting the best 11 players in the country. Taking it to its most basic level, if your best 11 players are all right wingers then you wouldn't play them all.

"But at the moment everything is looking really good.

"There are good young players and there are the old heads who have been there for a long time. There is competition in every single place.

"That was a very good performance in Germany without some of our better players.

"Lampard, Rooney, Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand were not involved and yet it was a great performance."