MUCH as he would love the opportunity to get one over on his manager, George Boateng has admitted that England are the team Holland would most like to avoid in this evening's World Cup draw.

Boateng, who recently ended a three-year international exile when he came off the bench against Italy, is being tipped to make Marco Van Basten's squad for next summer's finals in Germany.

Holland are among the favourites after winning a qualifying group that also included the Czech Republic and Romania but, while the likes of Mexico and Spain will be seeded in this evening's first round draw, the Dutch are among the European also-rans.

That means they could be paired with England and, despite relishing the prospect of taking on Steve McClaren, the Boro midfielder would prefer to be kept apart from Sven Goran Eriksson's side.

"If we had the choice, we want to avoid England," said Boateng. "Along with Brazil and France, I think they are the strongest teams in the tournament.

"Holland are known as one of the most creative countries in the world. If you take away Brazil, most people would say that Holland play some of the best football. But England come into that category as well, and they are certainly a team we are hoping to avoid."

Eyebrows were raised when FIFA's ranking system classed England as second only to the reigning world champions, Brazil. Eriksson's side impressed during last month's 3-2 win over Argentina but, two months earlier, were humbled at the hands of Northern Ireland.

That result marked the nadir of Eriksson's reign, but Boateng feels there is plenty for English fans to be optimistic about.

The midfielder has spent more than eight seasons in the Premiership and argues the league's competitiveness gives England's players a distinct advantage over most of their opponents.

"The England team is probably the most athletic in the world," said Boateng. "England have very talented and very strong athletes in their side.

"Even someone like Wayne Rooney, who is still only 20, is physically incredibly strong. He can run all day, as can players like (Frank) Lampard and (Steven) Gerrard.

"England's players are incredibly fit and, even though they are young, they have been playing in the Premiership for a lot of years.

"That makes them so strong and gives them so much experience. If you look at the Dutch team, we still have four or five players that are playing in the Dutch league. It is not a bad league, but it is nowhere near as strong as the Premiership.

"The English players know what it feels like to go the ultimate distance. They know what it feels like to play so hard that you cannot even breathe. You are running around, but you cannot even breathe through your mouth - that is the ultimate performance and that is why England are a team to avoid."

Last month's international recall was just reward for Boateng's consistency over the last couple of seasons.

The former Feyenoord midfielder was overlooked by a succession of Dutch managers but, with Van Basten axing the likes of Edgar Davids and Patrick Kluivert, a new breed has emerged.

Boateng is part of that breed but, while he takes obvious pride from playing for his country, the 30-year-old does not harbour any grudges about the way he was treated in the past.

"Everybody knows that, in Holland, we are spoiled for choice," he explained. "Players like Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert and Mark van Bommel have been left out, so you cannot be disappointed if you have not been there.

"But this manager is willing to give me a chance and I am delighted about that. I know my heritage is in Ghana, but I feel 100 per cent Dutch and I love to play for my country.

"I can still remember when Marco Van Basten won the European Championship in 1988. I grabbed an orange shirt and was proud to say I was Dutch. That feeling is exactly the same now."

Boateng takes great pride from pulling on the red of Middlesbrough. He has started every Premiership game this season and remains McClaren's most trusted lieutenant at the heart of midfield.

Yet, with his contract due to expire in May, talks about a new deal seem to have hit a brick wall.

McClaren has already expressed his frustration at the prospect of Boateng turning into the next Bolo Zenden, but the midfielder remains unhappy with the club's refusal to meet his demands.

He is free to talk to prospective employers from January 1 and, while he insists he would love to finish his career at the Riverside, there is unlikely to be a shortage of suitors.

"I don't want to think about playing anywhere else," said Boateng. "I haven't spoken to anybody, and nobody has spoken to me.

"I would love to finish my career here - I haven't changed my mind about that. I would like to stay and, hopefully, something can be sorted.

"We are still in talks. People are asking 'Why is it taking so long?' But it is not something that needs to be rushed.

"The club knows that I want to stay and I know that the club wants to keep me. It's just a matter of time."

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