In a rallying cry ahead of Saturday's quarterfinal showdown with Portugal, Neville said it was time for England to justify the hype surrounding their bid for the greatest prize in football.

"I believe there is a time and a moment for players to deliver, and I believe it is Saturday," said the Manchester United defender, who is likely to start after recovering from a calf strain.

"If it is not I'll be talking to you on Saturday night and saying that you have found the measure of this team. There'll be no excuses.

"If we fail on Saturday then we have to hold our hands up and say, 'we haven't delivered, that the talk about us being potential world champions was rubbish.' So this is it for us."

The straight-talking Neville represents the conscience of the England dressing room and has been an ever-present since making his debut in 1995.

While Neville believes the current England team is the best he has played with, he is adamant that reputations will count for nothing if England falls in the quarterfinals for the third major tournament on the trot.

"We have to win if we want to be recognised as a great England team," Neville said. "If we don't we'll be recognised as a nearly team, a team that had potential but didn't deliver.

"The measure of this team will be in this tournament. We couldn't have had a better preparation. We're two games away from a World Cup final.

"Can we win the next two football matches? We have shown we can beat anybody on our day but now it's time for us to deliver.

"There is great expectation but it is an expectation that I think is right and correct and we shouldn't shy away from it."

Neville is the first to admit that England have made hard work of a straightforward route into the last eight.

But the experienced 31-year-old believes England will be fresher for not having had a contest against a major side in the first phase or second round.

"We sort of almost feel that we haven't been tested in a way, like we've played three or four friendlies," he said.

"To get to this stage without playing a massive match has been good in one way and in another way it makes us aware that we have to step up against Portugal and we have to perform."