Phil Vickery leads his England squad out to France today determined not to be the captain that hands back the World Cup. No side has ever successfully defended the Webb Ellis Trophy but after a miserable four years England, now ranked seventh in the world, are listed as 33-1 outsiders.

Last month's back-to-back defeats to France were a stark reminder to England of how much they must improve if they hope to mount a successful title defence. And England depart for France with their veteran No8 Lawrence Dallaglio's comments ringing in their ears. Dallaglio, one of the stars of the successful 2003 campaign, and a member of the current squad, said England dwelled on victory for too long after being crowned world champions. In an interview with the BBC's Inside Sport to be aired tonight, Dallaglio said the preparation for this year's World Cup has "only just started".

"The planning process for this World Cup has only just started really," said Dallaglio in a thinly veiled attack at the Andy Robinson regime. "It should have started the day after the last one. But for two or three years after the World Cup we were still basking in the success of 2003. This current coaching and management set-up has had to pick up the pieces and prepare the squad to make a creditable defence of the trophy."

However, Dallaglio insisted it was not all 'doom and gloom' and said England have some players who give him confidence that the team can defy their critics. "We are world champions and know very definitively what we've got to do. I don't think it is all doom and gloom. When I turned up in the England squad for the first time in a while [after being named in Brian Ashton's 47-man training squad in June] I was pleasantly surprised by the faces that I saw in the room.

"I looked around the room and saw Jonny Wilkinson there and thought 'You've always got a chance with him in the team'. I also saw guys like Simon Shaw and Phil Vickery and was pleasantly optimistic. I think on paper we've got a much stronger team than perhaps people are giving us credit for."

England departed on a British Airways flight from Heathrow, named 'Hope and Glory' specially for the occasion, and Vickery, another veteran of England's 2003 campaign, remained bullish in spite of the team's recent poor form. "I don't want to be remembered as the captain who had to give the trophy back," he said. "I can guarantee I will give 110% to keep hold of it.

"I am focused on playing for England and captaining my team. I will do that to the best of my ability. We must have no regrets. I hope no one in the squad looks back on the tournament with 'if onlys' or 'could haves' because it is too late then. We must give everything we have got and hopefully we can spring a few surprises. The France games proved the level we are at is not good enough. But we are not far away. We will go to France and give a good account of ourselves."

England open their campaign against the United States in Lens this Saturday before tackling South Africa in Pool A's pivotal encounter. "America this weekend will up their game because they are playing England and it will be a big game for us," said Vickery. "We need to be mentally and physically right. The reality of it all is happening pretty fast now. There has been so much talk about the World Cup, but ultimately as a team you just want to get on with it. It is going to be intense but everyone is looking forward to it. We have all worked extremely hard and I'm really looking forward to the tournament."

Former England coach Andy Robinson also backed England, saying he believed they would make the semi-finals, and perhaps go further. Robinson, who was sacked as coach last November after defeats in 13 of his 22 games in charge, said: "I think England will certainly get to the semi-finals. If they do they certainly have the one-off players to get to the final. I certainly think that New Zealand will be favourites and France look strong at the moment and you can never write off Australia, but I've got a feeling for England."

Robinson also rejected Dallaglio's claims about the team's preparation. "I don't think so," Robinson said in response to Dallaglio's comments. "I think the 2003 tournament was magnificent but I think once it was over everyone was focusing on 2007. There has to be a review of what's happened over the last four years and I think that's happening now anyway. The plans are being put in place to give England the best opportunity to prepare for the next four years."