Sven-Goran Eriksson faces the happy prospect of a selection dilemma ahead of the Nigeria game on Wednesday, with his options increased by the excellent performances of every player who featured against Argentina.

Trevor Sinclair has forced his way into the reckoning for a place in the starting line up with his display on Friday, and Sven is certainly upbeat about his team, although some fitness issues remain.

"We will have to see how Hargreaves is, how Joe Cole is and how Heskey is. I hope that at least Heskey will be okay and also Joe Cole, I guess.

"But there are a lot of players knocking on the door here. Seeing the practice they did on Saturday, they all want to play and that's very good."

The coach, speaking at this morning's press conference at England's Awaji Island base, was keen to praise the contribution of Sinclair.

"I saw Trevor play that well at West Ham sometimes, but that was his best game for England, he said.

"I have had other good performances there but Trevor did a great job. He was excellent. He was physically strong, beat people, put some good crosses in and defended well too.

"I was impressed with his character and he's very fit and strong."

Another player singled out by Eriksson for praise was Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, who was substituted in the Argentina match before the hour mark.

"I think he did a great job and I was very happy with him. I'm sorry he got injured but Teddy Sheringham came in and did a good job as well," said Eriksson.

Turning to the prospect of facing Nigeria for a place in the Second Round, the coach has clearly identified the strengths of the opposition.

"Technically, they are more like Argentina than the Swedish players. They have a lot of fantasy and very good individual skills," he said.

"They are very quick and although they are maybe not as organised as Sweden, we will still have to defend very well and not only think about attacking and scoring goals.

"To beat Argentina and then go home should be extremely sad. That's why it's so important against Nigeria.

"They are proud and they won't want to go back home after three games without a point. So I expect them to be very dangerous."

Not ususally one for the old footballing cliches, Eriksson nevertheless knows a truism when he sees one.

"There are no easy games now," he warned.

"Even if you are Argentina, Italy or France, teams will not give you any favours. I guess that 20 years ago, they may have been afraid of meeting you. Not today though."

Eriksson knows that the final group game, in which England need a point to progress to the Second Round, is no time for experiments.

"I wish we were so secure in ourselves that we could rest four or five players.

"But I saw that in the past World Cup teams almost went out as a result. We can't afford to do that," he said.

Despite the pressure, though, Eriksson believes that his team should go into the game with confidence.

"I said to the players that we shouldn't be afraid of any team," said England's leader.

"If we can play football as we can, and we've shown many times, then we can beat any team."