15 March 2005    
Sven and Lawrie Sanchez Press Conference

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The two head coaches sat side by side at FA headquarters to face the press for the first time together – and now the excitement is starting to build.

In a conference organised by Nationwide, who sponsor both teams, the duo exchanged banter and got down to the nitty gritty of just who is going to win at Old Trafford on Saturday 26 March!

It’s the kind of friendly rivalry that will no doubt be replicated in Manchester next week, and with 6,500 passionate Northern Ireland fans heading for the north-west it promises to be quite an occasion.

"I really look forward to that very much," said Sven, who also leads the Three Lions against Azerbaijan at Newcastle on March 30.

"We have two competitive games, very important games, and hopefully ones with good football and good results."

For Sanchez it is the biggest test of his career so far, despite leading Wycombe Wanderers to the semi-finals of The FA Cup in 2001 and heading the winning goal for Wimbledon in The FA Cup Final of 1988.

He said: "This match is a big thing for us, I just came back from Belfast last night and I was talking to a fans’ forum there. It is the first time that Northern Ireland have played England in 20 years and obviously Manchester is reasonably close to Belfast and we have got 6,500 fans going.

"We could have had 10,000 if we'd had the tickets. But as Home International champions and current holders this means an awful lot to us.

"I'd like to think it means a lot to England as well. But it definitely means a lot to the fans, players and the management of Northern Ireland. It is a big game for us."

Sanchez got the first blow in with that answer – after all how many England fans had remembered that Northern Ireland won the last Home Internationals tournament way back in 1984?

It just goes to show there is plenty of history to this fixture and it won’t be the foregone conclusion that some experts have predicted.

Sven said: "On paper its one thing, in reality it's another thing. I have a lot of respect for Northern Ireland. I'm sure they will do everything to beat us, to make life difficult for us. In international football these days I don't remember having any easy games. Absolutely not. You have to work extremely hard and have a little bit of luck."

If England are at all tempted to think victory is guaranteed – which of course they are far too professional to do – then they only have to look at Sanchez’s incredible record of giant-killing. And true to form, the Northern Ireland boss was quick to bring that up too!

"Part of the reason I got the job as Northern Ireland manager was because of my career as a player. With Wimbledon and to a certain extent with Wycombe as well my career was about causing upsets. One of the things I said at the interview was that I cause upsets.

"If we did do it, this would be one of the biggest upsets ever. The difference is 111th and 7th in the world. So if we were to beat England it would probably be one of the biggest qualifying upsets out there. It is a big ask because England are a fantastic group of players and have a very good manager as well. But we’ll give it a go."

Sanchez may not have the incredible array of Premiership talent available to him that England have, but he does have one or two gems that will give the Three Lions some testing times.

He said: "David Healy is now the leading goalscorer for Northern Ireland so there's a player who’s very important. I think he's scored eight goals in my 12 games in charge. He is pivotal to what we do.

"We have also Stuart Elliot who is the leading scorer in the First Division and Andy Kirk the leading scorer in the Second. We don’t have the Premiership’s leading goalscorer yet but that would be nice to have!

"What I will say for the players is that it is a great opportunity for them as individuals. There’s an opportunity, going back to my days at Wycombe, for someone like Roy Essandoh against Leicester in The FA Cup to get into the right place and the right time, score the goal and be a hero. I know it worked for me and I'm still living on it 18 years later after scoring against Liverpool in 1988. I've been there and I know what its like."

As for Eriksson, his biggest concern is deciding who to leave out of his squad with so many talented players at his disposal.

Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson impressed on his first call-up to the England squad against Holland recently, while Stewart Downing is also in contention and Joe Cole has played so well for Chelsea that he could be pushing for a starting role.

Sven said:" I haven't decided a squad yet of course, I will pick it next Sunday. But Andy Johnson is always an interesting one.

"As for Joe Cole, he’s improving match after match. He's been playing a lot more recently and he shows much more discipline on the pitch, taking the right decisions, so of course, he is in my mind."

For the first time, Northern Ireland boss Sanchez raised his eyebrows – perhaps realizing just what he could be up against at Old Trafford.

"I don't think England have too many weaknesses," he admitted. "You look through their team. I think it's well known in football they are at the optimum age now for a team to win the World Cup. They will qualify from this group. And I've no doubt they will get through their group in the first stage of the finals - and then its the knockout stage.

"If they have a bit of luck on the way I think they are well capable, at this moment in time with the experience they have got in the squad, of doing very well in the World Cup, if not of winning it."

Sven couldn’t have put it better himself. But he’s only thinking of Northern Ireland for now – and the action starts in just 10 days time.