12 May 2005  
Sven-Goran Eriksson Exclusive

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Sven-Goran Eriksson believes the England tour to the United States will help the squad gel ahead of next year's World Cup Finals.

The Three Lions are well on the way to qualifying for the 2006 tournament in Germany when the players are likely to spend a month and a half in each other's company.

And with newcomers such as Shaun Wright-Phillips, Andy Johnson and Peter Crouch included in the USA tour party, England's Head Coach is keen for the players to bond off the pitch as well as on it.

"If and when we hopefully go to the World Cup Finals we will be together for five or six weeks or more," Sven said.

"If the players have never done that before then it can be very hard. I think it is important to have the right kind of people in there - not only skillful on the pitch but able to mix together as well. The ambience and the atmosphere in the group is very important.

"For these players to have an experience of international football outside of Europe against non-European teams will be an extremely good opportunity for them. And it also gives me the chance to see and learn about new players which is a good thing."

With Michael Owen and David Beckham unavailable for the first game of the tour against the United States due to Real Madrid commitments, the captain's armband will be passed on to one of the other experienced members of the squad.

And Sven revealed: "I think it will be Gary Neville or Sol Campbell. I have not decided yet, but Neville possibly. Both of them have a lot of experience and have played a lot of international football and they have the respect of the other players in the squad."

Although football is a relatively minor sport compared to baseball and basketball in USA, Sven has predicted a tough encounter when England kick-off the tour in Chicago on Saturday 28 May.

"USA reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Japan and Korea, so you have to say extremely well done for that," he added.

"They have players in the Premier League and when you play in that you are a top international player. And as a team they are getting better and better, so we have to take them very seriously."