Tonight:
5°c
One of the few remaining unknowns during the transformation of England under Fabio Capello is the ability of his team to beat the very best in world football.
According to FIFA's rankings, Brazil represent the definition of such a challenge and Saturday's friendly in Doha, therefore, becomes one of the clearest indications yet of where England stand in the modern game.
While France and Portugal head a number of high-profile teams sweating over their participation at next summer's World Cup, England can rightly feel a keen satisfaction that a match against Dunga's globetrotters is the extent of their worries this week.
But a concerning footnote of Capello's regime is that the routine manner of qualification is juxtaposed by friendly defeats to Spain and France - who sit second and ninth in FIFA's list - in which they were outclassed.
Throw in a draw against third-ranked Holland, albeit coming courtesy of an admirable second-half fightback, and doubts remain as to whether England have merely restored their candidacy as perennial quarter-finalists or taken the steps to prove a tournament victory is within reach.
"Perhaps we still have something to prove against the top sides in the world," said Peter Crouch.
"I would like to think we have improved since those games against France and Spain but we have got to test ourselves before the World Cup against the top teams.
"Brazil are one of those so we should not be fazed by it - we have to take them on and show what we can do.
"Historically, you look at the Brazil sides of old with the flair and ability they have got and it is always a great fixture for England.
"They are something different because they are a South American team and we are used to playing teams from Europe. They have a different style of play and that is something we are all looking forward to."
Crouch's own style puts him in direct competition with Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole as the foil to Wayne Rooney in Capello's preferred 'big man/little man' strike combination.
With Jermain Defoe and Gabriel Agbonlahor also in the mix while Darren Bent is handed a rare opportunity in Doha as Michael Owen appears ever further from Capello's thoughts, competition among the forwards is fierce.
Crouch earned a place among England's strikers at the last World Cup finals in Germany and believes a repeat success in the 22 for South Africa would rank as a greater achievement given the plethora of talent vying for inclusion. "I look at the set-up now and it probably is more competitive than in 2006," said the Tottenham striker.
"We have all these young players who have come through now and who weren't part of that World Cup squad before and they are playing fantastically well. There is huge competition for places now."
Brazil's silky Samba style is somewhat at odds with the traditional view of Crouch's own talents.
At 6ft 7in tall, he will give the Brazilians a problem they rarely face but the 28-year-old may be winning his battle to prove there is more to his game.
Crouch has 16 goals in 17 starts for England but, like England under Capello, the accusation levelled against him is a lack of effectiveness against the top sides. "As long as I am playing well and scoring goals, I will be considered," he said. "I was given an opportunity in the last game against Belarus and hopefully that pushed my case along a little bit.
"I am very proud of my international record for England. I just have to keep that record going and with the creative players we have got in the England team at the moment, I always think I am going to get chances. When I am given those chances, I will take them.
"It does annoy me at times when people say that my game is just about the aerial threat. It's an option - high balls and crosses - but I would like to believe I offer more than that.
"At times, there is an out ball where you can hit me aerially but with the quality of players we have, we can pass the ball well and hopefully I am one of those. I have scored goals with my head so it helps being tall but I have got enough ability on the ground as well."
A friendly against Brazil is a perfect platform to display those skills and those who question the wisdom of a 14-hour round trip to Dubai in November are unlikely to find sympathy with many of the England squad.
Brazil are no strangers to such travel, having played all but one of 12 friendlies outside their homeland since drawing 1-1 with England to mark the opening of Wembley in June 2007.
Training at Arsenal's London Colney base yesterday was a turgid affair in the miserable winter weather and Crouch added: "It was pretty cold out there and we are all looking forward to getting somewhere a bit warmer."
Turning the heat up on Brazil would suggest Capello's mission may be a step closer to completion.
