It's official, Sven-Göran Eriksson’s motherland are England’s nemesis in the world of international football.

Although having lost only five times in 19 meetings with Sweden, who England play in a friendly on Wednesday, it is a mind-boggling 36 years and ten matches since we got one over on our Scandinavian hosts.

On that occasion at Wembley, England were the world champions, winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Martin Peters, Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt. But surely there must be other nations that have proved equally obdurate to defeat over the years, such as Brazil, Argentina, France or Italy?

Brazil

If it has been 36 years and ten games without a victory over Sweden, then one shudders to think how many decades it has been without a win against the five-times World champions and the country generally recognised as being the kings of the round ball game?

Well in fact, it is only 14 years and seven fixtures since Gary Lineker’s header beat the samba boys at Wembley in a pre-1990 World Cup friendly.

Germany

Surely the Three Lions’ arch-enemy, World and European champions on three occasions each, have proved a more than stern test for England over the years?

Again the answer is ‘no’ and this time emphatically so as I’m sure no England fan has forgotten the last time the two nations met on a memorable September afternoon in Munich, when Sven’s boys stunned the Germans 5-1 in a vital World Cup qualifier.

Before that, there was also the 1-0 win in Charleroi during Euro 2000.

Argentina

England have always tended to struggle against the supposedly technically superior south Americans, especially given the added history between the two nations, haven’t they?

Not if you remember back to their last clash during the 2002 World Cup in Sapporo.

Having failed to beat you-know-who in their opening group fixture, England then came up against the much-fancied Argentinians and turned in one of their most accomplished displays of recent times.

David Beckham's penalty won the match 1-0 and helping to push the two-time World Cup-winners towards the Far East exit door in the process.

Italy

What then of the Azzurri, who have been crowned kings of the world three times, as well as European champions on one occasion?

If Alf Ramsey was in charge of the national team when we beat Sweden 36 years ago, then Walter Winterbottom was probably at the helm when victory was last achieved over one of the powerhouses of the European game?

No, it was Glenn Hoddle during Le Tournoi seven years and a mere four matches ago, when goals from Paul Scholes and Ian Wright brought about a 2-0 triumph in Nantes.

France

Few countries can claim to have beaten the current European champions and 1998 World Cup-winners in recent times, so one doubts whether England can, can they?

Well, it might be seven years since we overcame Les Bleus, but that was also only three games ago, again during Le Tournoi, secured thanks to Alan Shearer’s solitary strike in Montpellier.

Holland

What then of the country that introduced us to Total Football and the likes of Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten?

Terry Venables was England coach the last time we beat the Dutch, 4-1 at Wembley during Euro 96, the small matter of three matches ago, again further supporting those who believe in a Swedish hoodoo.

Scotland

The auld enemy have always tended to raise their game when confronted with a shirt bearing the Three Lions, beating them the last time their two paths’ crossed at Wembley during a second-leg play-off for Euro 2000.

But, four days earlier, Kevin Keegan’s men had left Hampden Park as 2-0 victors courtesy of Paul Scholes’s brace, so Scotland are certainly no Sweden when it comes to proving a thorn in the side of the English.

Spain

Last try then. Although always considered to be the great underachievers of word football, the one-time European champions have nonetheless never been an easy team to get the better of.

Well, actually England have an excellent record against the Spanish and comfortably beat them 3-0 on the last occasion the two nations met, at Villa Park three years ago, in what was Sven-Göran Eriksson’s first match in charge of his adopted country.

Wait just there though, as there is one country that can rival Sweden when it comes regarding England as their favourite opponent in world football, and that is Romania.

Amazingly, it has been 34 years and eight fixtures since England beat Romania 1-0 in Guadalajara during the 1970 World Cup, and like on the last occasion we overcame Sweden, we were world champions then as well.

The good news for Sven and his men though is that not only did Romania fail to qualify for Euro 2004 this summer, but also that Sweden who did, cannot meet England until the semi-finals at the earliest!