Although the England coach already has a fair idea of the nucleus of his party (he recently admitted: "If I should pick the team and the squad today for EURO 2004, with everyone fit, it wouldn't be that difficult"), the England coach has always been clear that his mind remains very much open. "It's up to the players to convince me," is a phrase he has used consistently.

In fact, Sven is naming his squad early so he can get his party together to play in the international Mini-Tournament to be staged in Manchester in June.

"Although Sven is naming his squad on 17th May, the official deadline from UEFA is 2nd June, so there is room for some flexibility, if required, until then," Adrian Bevington, The FA's Head of Media Relations explains.

After the Mini-Tournament, which will involve matches against Iceland and Japan, Sven and his squad will move onto their Lisbon base for the Finals themselves.

His squad will need to hit the ground running with France lying in wait on 13th June.

So, 17th May it is. The countdown begins now.

England Squad - Information

This season 33 players have played for England

D James (Man City) G Neville (Man Utd) J Cole (Chelsea)
P Robinson (Leeds) P Neville (Man Utd) J Jenas (Newcastle)
S Campbell (Arsenal) W Bridge (Chelsea) S Parker (Chelsea)
J Terry (Chelsea) G Johnson (Chelsea) K Dyer (Newcastle)
R Ferdinand (Man Utd) D Beckham (R Madrid) T Sinclair (Man City)
M Upson (Birm City) P Scholes (Man Utd) M Owen (Liverpool)
L King (Tottenham) S Gerrard (Liverpool) W Rooney (Everton)
G Southgate (M'boro) F Lampard (Chelsea) E Heskey (Liverpool)
J Carragher (Liverpool) O Hargreaves (Bayern) D Vassell (A Villa)
D Mills (M'boro - onloan) N Butt (Man Utd) A Smith (Leeds)
A Cole (Arsenal) D Murphy (Liverpool) J Beattie (Soton)

The squad that Sven named for the 2002 World Cup was:

1. D Seaman (Arsenal) 9. R Fowler (Leeds) 17. E Sheringham (Spurs)
2. D Mills (Leeds) 10. M Owen (Liverpool) 18. O Hargreaves (Bayern)
3. A Cole (Arsenal) 11. E Heskey (Liverpool) 19. J Cole (West Ham)
4. D Murphy (Liverpool) 12. W Brown (Man U) 20. D Vassell (A Villa)
5. R Ferdinand (Leeds) 13. N Martyn (Leeds) 21. N Butt (Man Utd)
6. S Campbell (Arsenal) 14. W Bridge (Soton) 22. D James (West Ham)
7. D Beckham (Man Utd) 15. M Keown (Arsenal) 23. K Dyer (Newcastle)
8. P Scholes (Man Utd) 16. G Southgate (Mboro)


The most recent squad named by Sven, for the friendly away in Faro, was:


GK D James (Man City) DF S Campbell (Arsenal) MD J Cole (Chelsea)
GK P Robinson (Leeds) DF J Terry (Chelsea) MD J Jenas (Newcastle)
GK C Kirkland (Liverpool) DF G Southgate (Mboro) MD K Dyer (Newcastle)
DF D Mills (Mboro) MD D Beckham (R Madrid) FW M Owen (Liverpool)
DF J Carragher (Liverpool) MD F Lampard (Chelsea) FW E Heskey (Liverpool)
DF A Cole (Arsenal) MD O Hargreaves (Bayern) FW W Rooney (Everton)
DF W Bridge (Chelsea) MD N Butt (Man Utd) FW A Smith (Leeds)
DF P Neville (Man Utd) MD P Scholes (Man Utd) FW D Vassell (A Villa)