Tord tells TheFA.com that England gave the perfect answer to the critics...

Tord Grip tells TheFA.com that England gave the ideal answer to the critics on Wednesday night...and hails the 'perfect' tactics...click here for his post-match debrief...

Tord Grip enters the fourth floor office that he shares with Sven-Goran Eriksson. It's the first time that the pair have seen each other since Wednesday night.

There is a mutual nod and a brief smile but no hugs or congratulations, despite the magnitude and style of the 2-0 defeat of Turkey.

Though the words are left unsaid, there is an air of optimism and positivity flowing from both men...

"I must say that after the game I was a little bit high," Grip eventually confides to TheFA.com when he sits down for his considered post-match debrief.

"There had been a lot of pressure on us and Sven in particular. It was a great release when we got those goals and the win.

"I know the media always like to write something about the national team but they over do it a little bit sometimes.

"Sven is very calm though. He is aware of what is written but it doesn't bother him much. The only way you can answer is to win football matches. It's by far the best answer and we gave it.

"We won this game and we weren't lucky to win. I think we deserved to win more than two-nil it's still a good result, especially when results against your group rivals count in terms of qualification."

Two wins and six points in four days is a fine return from the double-header and Tord believes that the approach to both games was spot-on.

"I thought we were right in the way we played against Liechtenstein," he says. "We played as much as we had to play. You don't need to win four or five nil and run like yourselves into the ground when you know in a few days you have another game - a more important game.

"I think the players did very well in both games, especially against Turkey. Turkey is a good team and we made them look a bit average at times. Now we've beaten the team that finished third in the World Cup as well as the team that finished second [Germany], so that bodes well."

If you'd been logging on to TheFA.com in the build-up to the game, you will have known that the plan had been to play with a compact shape in the midfield in order to nullify Turkey's own strength in that area.

In the event, Sven and his coaching staff opted for a diamond shape, using Nicky Butt to anchor, with Steven Gerrard and David Beckham playing behind the more advanced Paul Scholes.

"I think it worked perfectly," states Tord. "I think we achieved a good balance. The only one who was not playing in their normal role was Steven Gerrard who was playing on the left hand side of the centre. But he's in good form at the moment and that means that you can play everywhere.

"With Nicky Butt sitting in there, Gerrard was freer to go forward and he did drive forward with the ball a number of times. That is what he does when he is in form. If he feels strong he can beat people."

So when did Sven, Tord and co decide that the diamond formation was going to be the way to tackle the Turkey game?

"We talked about it even before the Liechtenstein game," he reveals. "We even contemplated playing the diamond against Liechtenstein to get us used to it but in the end decided not to."

On Wednesday evening, Sven's men followed up a goalless first half with a barnstorming performance in the second period, culminating in Vassell and Beckham's vital strikes. So what was the magic ingredient in the tea at the interval?

"We didn't ask the players to do too much different at half-time," recalls Tord. "We were the stronger team and we saw that in the first half. We controlled the game and created more chances so it was just a case of carrying on.

"The main thing Sven said was that we should try to put a little bit more pressure on their full-backs higher up the pitch to prevent them keeping possession and starting their moves."

Tord also believes that there was another factor that helped to bring the best out in the Three Lions - the tremendous atmosphere that illuminated The Stadium of Light on the night.

"As always in England, with the national team and with the clubs, it was an amazing evening," he says. "I don't think you find that anywhere else today. We hear very often from Italy that the stands are not full any longer, that the crowds don't come to the games.

"I don't know why that is the case but here it is marvellous. They love the England team.

"Now I hope we can give the fans what they want - qualification for the European Championships."

Wednesday night was a huge step in that direction.

Tord Grip was talking to Daniel Freedman