David Beckham has set his sights on recreating the joy that followed England's World Cup rugby triumph by leading his country to Euro 2004 glory.

Beckham admitted he started dreaming of such possibilities after witnessing the amazing scenes in London last November during the victory parade by skipper Martin Johnson and the rest of the squad.

And he is optimistic England's footballers can peak at the right time in the same way as the rugby players who triumphed over Australia thanks to Johnny Wilkinson's last-minute drop goal.

England will launch their Euro campaign tomorrow with the most testing of challenges against current champions France in Lisbon.

But Beckham said: ''I would like to think we can peak in the same way as the rugby team did.

''We are aware we will need something like against Germany, Argentina and Turkey in the last two or three years - games we pulled it out in when it really mattered.

''But we have a very strong squad, some very talented young players and also a lot of players in there with a lot of experience.

''I would like to think at one point we will peak at the right time and hopefully this summer will be it.''

He admitted: ''I was over in England when the rugby World Cup was won and it was some incredible scenes of joy for many people. It was amazing to see the celebrations going on.

''I dreamt of what it would mean if the same thing happened with the football team when all that was actually happening.

''What people have to think about is if that was big and so good, imagine what would happen if we pulled off the same sort of thing. It would be incredible.''

Beckham has spelt out his determination to prove his critics wrong this summer and perform consistently throughout the three-week long tournament.

He had to endure the shame of his sending-off in World Cup '98, then an England team that did not fire on all cylinders in Euro 2000 while his impact was affected by his foot injury in the World Cup in Japan two years ago.

Beckham said: ''I think in club football and in certain games for England, I've personally performed very well. In competitions, in some games I've played well and not so well in others.

''I wouldn't call myself a failure as I have been called by some but that's something I'm looking forward to proving wrong this summer.

''I thought I had to prove a lot of people wrong by going to Spain and proving myself there and was happy with my performances, especially in the first half of the season.

''Now there is more pressure on the team and myself as a player to perform and I'll do my best.''

The former Manchester United star is relieved that the kind of injury problems that dogged him in Japan are in the past as he prepares to tackle his Real Madrid club-mate Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Co.

Beckham said: ''I went into the World Cup always worrying about getting fit for the first game and I haven't got that worry now.

''I've no back or front pages on about my foot. I'm looking forward and my frame of mind is great.''

Beckham has complete confidence in Sven-Goran Eriksson to come up with the right formation and team selection tomorrow.

He said: ''Can we trust Sven? We can definitely trust him. The players do and everyone else has to.

''He is doing what he thinks is best. If that means we play in a way not many people agree with, then we have to put that aside, move on and hopefully win the game.''

Probable teams:

England: James; G Neville, A Cole, Campbell, King/Carragher; Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Scholes; Rooney, Owen.

France: Barthez; Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu; Pires, Vieira, Makelele, Zidane; Henry, Trezeguet.