29 March 2005    
Sven press conference

 Click here to download Windows Media Player.

 Sven-Goran Eriksson has spoken of the unprecedented confidence running through the England ranks as they head into their World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan at St. James' Park.

Eriksson enthused about the belief that has been engendered in his squad after their comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Northern Ireland at Old Trafford last Saturday.

The Swede believes that success at club level for the likes of Carling Cup-winning trio Frank Lampard, John Terry and Joe Cole, has helped to give Group Six leaders England renewed assurance and a certain swagger.

Eriksson said: "The confidence I feel around me is incredible. In the last four years, I have never seen a team that confident. I think this is the best squad I have had since I came to this country.

"It's a team that can keep the ball much better than we did in the past. One of our goals is to be as technically good as the best teams in the world.

"What has happened? I think a lot of the players have had good results for their clubs and have done well in Europe.

"It's means a lot to have confidence. It means you are not afraid and I know that, even if the opponents are the best in the world, I have the players to handle the situation.

"The players are more mature. They are calm and know what to do. They are very professional and are not nervous about any game.

"They were not nervous at all on Saturday at half-time when it was 0-0. They just went out and played as they had done in the first half. I would like them to go on playing as they did on Saturday.''

Many fans are anticipating another goal spree against minnows Azerbaijan after their 8-0 weekend pasting in Poland.

But Eriksson stressed: "You can't expect your team to go out and score five or eight every time. It's always a nice surprise when you score a lot of goals.

"I know we are super-favourites to win this game, but that doesn't mean we will have the same score as Poland. Entertainment is not a word that football people use. We say: 'Play good football.'

"Every coach in the world tries to attack well, defend well and win games. I don't know any manager who tells the players to go out and entertain.

"Azerbaijan have drawn with Wales and Northern Ireland; they lost against us, but it wasn't an easy game. They lost away to Austria but did rather well there.

"I have watched their game in Poland and it was an unreal game. Everything went right for Poland and everything went wrong for Azerbaijan. So I don't think Azerbaijan are as bad as that result showed and I don't think Poland are that good.''

Eriksson is looking forward to pitting his wits against Azerbaijan coach Carlos Alberto, Brazil's 1970 World-Cup winning captain.

He said: "He was powerful, a great player, one of those many great Brazilian players. He scored a wonderful goal in the final in 1970. I was a full-back like him - but not that good!''

Eriksson, meanwhile, confirmed that he fully expects David Beckham to lead England into the World Cup.

The coach said: "David is a very important player to us. He is not in the starting line-up for any other reason than football. I hope he will be my captain at the World Cup. He's a good captain and if you ask all 23 members of the squad, they will agree with that.

"I think it helps that we have a lot of leaders in the team, which maybe we didn't have some years ago. Rio Ferdinand has been captain of Manchester United and John Terry is the captain of Chelsea, so it's good that we have those kind of players.''

Eriksson admits that Terry's fine form could present him with a selection poser at the centre of defence when Sol Campbell recovers from injury.

"If all three are fit it ill give me a headache,'' said Eriksson. "I think we have three of the best centre-halves in the world.'' 

And Eriksson insists the front pairing of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney will only improve.

He said: "They are gifted. With Rooney it's easy to keep the ball upfield. Every time they play together they get better and better, and they are still very young.''