Relaxing in his Soho Square office, in which a collage of action shots from his opening victory against Spain adorns the wall, Eriksson explained how his new job is proving to be both an educational and enjoyable experience.

"I had never had any dealings with The Football Association until I received my first phone call," revealed Eriksson. "But since I've been in the country I have realised how big it is and how important it is in England.

"We are always under the microscope. You can't imagine the amount of work that goes on here until you walk though the doors. Everyone is working well and has a very positive attitude. Of course the England team is going to take most of the headlines but when you come in here you realise that that there are a lot of people in The FA doing a lot of good work. It's nice to come to the office in the morning."

So is there anything that the former Lazio coach misses about club management?

"The only thing that I am missing as a national team manager as opposed to a club coach is the daily contact with the players and the dressing room atmosphere," he said. "As a club manager it is far easier to get to know your players."

"When I go to see games it is not the right time really to talk to the players. When, for example, Liverpool are playing Manchester United in a competitive game it is not easy to talk about the national team. So maybe this season when I go to training grounds around the country, I will take the opportunity to speak with the players."

Waiting for signature on Eriksson's desk are four copies of his recently published book: Sven-Goran Eriksson on Football. The book is an in-depth study of the ways in which the powers of psychology can be harnessed to achieve sporting success. His intellectual approach to football management is one of the qualities that sets Eriksson aside from many of his contemporaries. So how did he himself first come into contact with psychology in football?

"The first time that I came into contact with psychology was in 1978, when I was in charge of my first club, Degerfors," recalled the Swede. "We played very good football during the year and reached a play-off to get into the second division. But in the play-off we played awfully and the same thing happened the next year. I could not understand why this was happening. How could we play so well during the year and then lose that ability when the important games came? Everybody was nervous and frightened. So then I contacted a psychologist named Willi Railo whom I had heard of through a book he had written.

"I knew that I couldn't help my players any more. The problem was not in their feet it was in their heads. Since then I have always been interested in the psychological aspect of sport. When I think I can't help a player any more, that's when I take professional help."

This acceptance of the limits to the personal influence that he can exert on his players is a sign of the mature and inclusive style of management that has become Eriksson's trademark. So will he be calling on some of this 'professional' help should we make it to the World Cup finals next year?

"Let's first get to Korea and Japan before we talk about who will be joining us," he responded. "What I can say is that when you are together with the players for just three to five days it is too short a time to introduce these ideas but it may be different if you are together for five or six weeks."

One of the players who Sven believes always had the right mental attitude is the former Sampdoria midfielder and new England Under-21 coach, David Platt. Platt's swift rise up the managerial ladder has not surprised his former boss who always had an inclination of what might lie ahead for the former England captain.

"When I had David as a player at Sampdoria I was always sure that he would be a coach in the future," revealed Eriksson. "Not only was he technically very good but he also knew very well the importance of the team. He would run 50 metres extra just to help one of his teammates. He was one of those thinking footballers."

Platt now joins Sammy Lee and Steve McClaren as one of the group of talented young English coaches who will be hoping to both contribute and learn as they increase their experience through their involvement with Club England. All three will be looking forward to the forthcoming meeting with Holland, which will take place at White Hart Lane on August 15.

Eriksson, too, is eagerly anticipating the chance to pit his wits against one of Europe's most talented and exciting football nations.

"Holland also have a relatively new manager in [Louis] Van Gaal," he noted. "I know he is a very good manager and a well organised one. It will be a very good game, a very interesting game and a very difficult game. Holland have a lot of excellent players all around the world."

From what we know of Mr Eriksson, though, we can expect him to embrace, rather than refrain from, this next challenge.