16 November 2004    
Sven-Goran Eriksson Press Conference

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Eriksson is getting close to half a century of matches in charge of the Three Lions and admits he will reminisce a little when his team line up against Spain in the Bernabeu.

It was the same opposition for his first ever match in charge of England way back on 28 February 2001 – a match that we won 3-0 at Villa Park with goals from Nick Barmby, Emile Heskey and Ugo Ehiogu.

"Forty-eight games! It’s a lot," said Eriksson.

"We certainly have a better squad now, how much better I don’t know, but it’s certainly better. We have more pace, more experience and technically we are also better.

"I would say the most proud I have been so far would be Germany away, Argentina in the World Cup and Turkey.

"Overall we have done rather well in competitive games. But it hurts a lot of course the two games – one against Brazil and one against Portugal – when we had to leave big tournaments. I wish and I hope we can do better in the future.

"All this job is about is the big tournaments. You have to qualify first and then we want to reach the final. I think we can do it, that’s why I’m still in this job."

Eriksson is too modest to describe himself as a big success as England Head Coach, but he is clear in his aims for the future as the Three Lions bid to reach the World Cup Finals in 2006.

"What I love most as a manager is to win trophies. It’s the greatest thing in your professional life. But unfortunately in this job, you have the opportunity only once every second year - it’s quite different to being a club manager with three or four possibilities all season.

"It’s more difficult to win the World Cup for any nation than it is to win Serie A, for instance. I miss winning trophies as much as the fans do."

Eriksson has certainly brought a new belief to English football, buoyed by runs to the quarter-finals of both the World Cup and European Championships.

But what he says one his greatest achievements has been to stabilise the way the squad is picked and create a club atmosphere between the players.

He said: "When I came in I wanted to go into the job with open eyes, I didn’t want to speak to previous managers of England about how they did the job and which players they picked. I wanted to do that with my own head, so I don’t know what has changed.

"But what I wanted was stability, not to have a revolution every time I pick a squad. If a player doesn’t play very well in one game, don’t put him out – give him calm and stability.

"What I was always looking for was stability because if you have that in the squad it’s very good. It took a long time because I didn’t know the players and I had to find out what they are like outside the pitch as well as on it. But now we have it."

England’s clear-cut aim is to win the World Cup in Germany in 2006, and a friendly match in Madrid gives Eriksson a chance to test his side against the best.

And today he gave a clear indication that he intends to start the match with his first choice eleven.

"Of course when I have the possibility to play with the best team and see Wayne Bridge and Ashley Cole playing together again I will take that opportunity. But we will also try to play good football and try to win it as well," he said.

"I haven’t decided how many substitutes we are going to do, probably six. Everybody is asking me about David Beckham but I haven’t asked David what he wants. Normally he wants to play the whole 90 minutes but he’s not deciding that, even if he’s the captain. I will decide that!"

Eriksson says Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips will almost certainly come onto the field at some stage, but Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland could miss out this time.

He said: "I might have brought on Kirkland if I could have changed 11 players, but I can only change six. It makes it difficult to change the goalkeeper. But if he goes on playing like he is doing and stays fit then sooner or later he will have his cap.

"I heard a story about his family and a bet that they will win if he gets a cap. Well, maybe not this time but in the future!"

Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing, picked in the Under 21s this week, could also feature in future squads. And Eriksson was quick to answer questions about what more the youngster had to do to win a call-up.

"What does he have to do? Carry on like he is playing and hopefully even a little bit better," said Sven.

"I have had a lot of discussions before I picked the squad with Peter Taylor and Steve McClaren. All three of us agreed that for the moment it’s better that he got a full 90 minutes international football with the Under 21s. But he’s close.

"My opinion is that when you pick a young player you should be rather sure that he will be OK. Otherwise it’s not good. For the moment we think he should go on playing for the Under 21s and play more football.

"He’s very impressive, he can use left foot and right and has pace. But I want to be sure he is ready."

Eriksson’s attitude shows just how seriously he is taking this friendly international against one of the biggest teams in world football.

Spain are expected to field an attacking line-up, with Arsenal’s Jose Antonio Reyes on the left wing and Real Madrid legend Raul up front.

"Spain have a young team but there is a lot to admire," said Eriksson.

"The right winger Joaquin is very, very good with a lot of pace. Reyes has pace on the other side too and Fernando Torres is an extremely good centre-forward – his style is like Van Basten. And you always have to admire Raul who is always scoring goals, and Xavi who is an extremely good midfielder who makes things happen around him.

"It will be a big test for us, I am sure of that."

It certainly will – but a repeat of the 3-0 victory three-and-a-half years ago would be more than welcome!