England Head Coach Eriksson is renowned for his softly-spoken, calm and reassuring manner. And his pre-match team talk will concentrate not on pumping England's star players up tonight but on reminding them of their on-field duties.

Eriksson has thought carefully about what to say in the dressing room before the Three Lions go out to battle, and there will be no Churchillian speeches or clenching of fists.

He said: "The biggest advice I can give to players is to keep it cool up there in their head, whatever happens. In the big tournaments, in the big games it's one of the most important things.

"When you lose your head, you lose your tactics, your shape, you lose everything. And you risk getting yellow and red cards. They have to talk to each other and they have to think.

"Playing France is not easy and if you don't have discipline you are absolutely out. If you don't have shape or organisation you are in trouble.

"If you lose the ball and are badly organised that's Christmas Eve for France, they will be coming at you all over the place. So you have to keep discipline and organisation. We have been working a lot on that."

Eriksson says he has already decided on the 11 players who will play against France, and John Terry is definitely out with a hamstring problem.

It means either Jamie Carragher or Ledley King will replace the Chelsea man in central defence, but the Head Coach is remaining tight lipped.

He said: "Carragher has more experience and has played UEFA Cup and Champions League. Ledley is taller, a better header and maybe a little quicker.

"You have to choose but they are both in good shape. Sol will look after whoever plays alongside him and tell him what to do. I have already decided who to pick but I won't tell you just yet!"

The game is so huge that even Eriksson, who rarely seems to lose his cool, admits he will be nervous when he sees Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane walk out to face his side.

But there is no chance of the Swede crumbling under the pressure, and even less chance of him showing it.

He said: "Of course I will be nervous. All big game games you feel it inside. But I think the job I have I shouldn't show that in the dressing room because it's not good for the players.

"I'm more relaxed than last time at the World Cup because we have so few problems. Before Japan we had players going home and others coming back and of course David Beckham injured.

"It was very difficult. This time the only problem we have is John Terry and we're quite sure he will be fit for the second game. So I am looking forward to the tournament."

Eriksson's only other tactical decision to make this week was whether to choose Nicky Butt in midfield or stick with Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard who played so well together against Iceland last weekend.

It seems he has decided to stick with a winning formula, even though all four would prefer to play in the centre rather than on the right or wide left.

Eriksson said: "I took all of the midfielders the first day in Sardinia and told them 'I know you prefer to play central all of you'. I said if you can find a system with four central midfielders tell me because I don't have it!

"But the good thing is that all four can play left, right and centre. It's not a problem, they accept the work they have to do and they understand it.

"They are the best four midfielders who are English and they can all defend or attack. I think they can play together.

I think with these players if you want to play four or if you want to play a diamond they can do both of them. They can switch easily. But we have Nicky Butt as well who is knocking on the door and wants to come in."

The inclusion of Liverpool star Gerrard, who was injured for the World Cup in 2002, is a major boost for England, and Eriksson believes he could be the key to the team's success.

In fact, he paid the midfielder an amazing tribute by admitting he has never seen a player like him!

Eriksson said: "Steven Gerrard is a complete midfielder and he can do everything. He can tackle, he can score, he can pass 10 yards or 40 yards.

"His engine is incredible, he can go up and down the field if you want him to do that. His fitness level is incredible and he is very, very strong.

"It's very seldom you have a footballer who can do everything, and Steven Gerrard can do that.

"Normally you have someone who is better defending, a good tackler and good at winning the ball but maybe not so good at long passes. But Steven can do everything. I don't remember ever having a player like that before.

"There will be some good tackles going in between him and Patrick Vieira on Sunday. In those situations you can't expect to win every tackle but he will not lose many.

"It is a very important game for us and I think it will be a great tournament. All the best teams are here - we are missing Turkey maybe, who did well in the World Cup, but that's all.

"We have top world class players on show and it will be fantastic for everyone. And I believe England can do very well."