09 February 2005    
Post-Match reaction: Sven-Goran Eriksson

 Click here to download Windows Media Player.


Sven-Goran Eriksson was happy with his England side's performance after they drew 0-0 with Holland at Villa Park.

Despite missing six central defenders through injury, England looked solid at the back which was superbly organised by Wes Brown and Jamie Carragher.

In midfield the Three Lions had a new shape, with captain David Beckham playing alongside Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard operating as a central three, with Shaun Wright-Phillips pushed further forward in attack.

After the game Sven said:"I think we played rather well. We tried a 4-3-3 system and I think it was okay.

"We created some good opportunities. In the first half we could have scored once, maybe twice, and we tried a new system which I think worked out."

In a match of few chances, Wright-Phillips missed two good opportunities to put his side in front whilst at the other end Dirk Kuyt hit the post.

"We had one session trying to practise it [a 4-3-3 system]. Rooney has played many times to the left this season and Shaun Wright-Phillips is a natural right winger. And by that system you have three extremely good footballers in the centre - Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard."

England's last match, a 1-0 defeat in Madrid, was described at the time by Sven as the worst performance he had seen from his England side. But things worked out better this time.

"I think they [the players] enjoyed it today. Two or three of them came in at half time saying 'don't take me off, don't take me off'. They wanted to play the full ninety minutes."

As well as the excellent form of the defence, other positives that Sven can take out of the match include seeing Andrew Johnson and Stewart Downing make their debuts.

"We saw two new faces in Andy Johnson and Stewart Downing and I think they came on well, both of them. I know them better than I did four days ago, and that's good.

Of Johnson, who played wide on the right, Sven said: "I know he's better in the centre, but we decided to stick with the system we started with.

"I talked to him. We could have changed to 4-4-2 and taken him inside, but I preferred to stay with our formation. He was okay. He was very happy to be picked and play his first game."

Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing also got a first cap under his belt and he, along with Johnson, will be hoping that he can find a way into Sven's next England squad for the two World Cup qualifiers in March.

England take on Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in a double-header which could determine England's path to the 2006 World Cup.