Being England manager has been a challenge: Capello

England is hungrier than any other country and it would be the toughest challenge of his life to take the side in the football World Cup finals in South Africa in June-July, feels manager Fabio Capello.

England have been drawn along with the USA, Algeria and Slovenia in Group C at the finals starting on June 11 and Capello has set a semifinal target for the team.

"All teams are hungry to win the World Cup but England is hungrier than anybody. It has been a challenge to be the manager of the England team but I like the challenge and I think taking the team to the World Cup finals will be the toughest challenge of my life," Capello told reporters at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi.

"I try to win always and our focus would be to beat the best teams and reach the semifinals atleast. We have some good players, we believe we are at the same level as other teams and we can beat them," he added.

The Italian considered star striker Wayne Rooney as one of the best footballers in the world, at par with Argentine striker Lionel Messi and Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Messi and Rooney are among best footballers. Messi is fast and imaginative, while Rooney is strong. I feel Rooney, Messi and Ronaldo are current best players," he said.

With the World Cup being hosted in South Africa for the first time, Capello feels one of the African teams can spring a surprise in the quadrennial event.

"I think one of the African teams like Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria will create something surprising."