Windy City awaits

Sven-Goran Eriksson and his young England squad have departed for their week-long tour of the USA, where they will go head to head with the host country and Colombia.

Having met at the team base this morning near Manchester, the squad took a light lunch at 2.30 before boarding a plane for Chicago.

Tomorrow morning the squad will train in the 'Windy City' before watching fellow England stars Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in action for Liverpool in the Champions League Final.

Saturday will see England play their first fixture against the USA at Chicago's Solider Field, before they travel to New Jersey to face Colombia at Giants Stadium on Tuesday.

Prior to the tour England Head Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson commented: "Playing the USA in their own country is a big test. They are an excellent team who have made enormous progress over the last ten years or so, and were very unlucky not to make the semi-finals at the last World Cup.

"They have some very good young players, and also many players with experience of playing in the Premier League.

"Colombia have always produced talented individuals and offer a totally different style of football to most other teams.

"The trip will be an excellent learning experience, as well as a unique chance to increase interest in English football among the American public."

England squad v. USA and Colombia