England v Portugal
Saturday 01 July 2006
World Cup, Quarter-Final
Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
4pm kick off (London Time)

28 June 2006
VIDEO: Sven press conference
Sven-Goran Eriksson talks to the media ahead of England's crunch World Cup quarter-final with Portugal.
Sven-Goran Eriksson says he has a clear vision about how to guide England to the World Cup Final.

The Three Lions boss has laughed off inaccurate reports that England’s players have been left confused by tactical changes in Germany.

And, in a rare and vociferous defence of his management style, he has given fascinating details about the depth of thought that goes into getting England ready for action.

Eriksson has worked hard over the last 12 months to increase the tactical options available to the England squad, trying out a 4-5-1 formation as well as the usual 4-4-2. Now he believes it has given his side a greater chance of success.

He said: "If we have only one system people ask ‘where is the plan B’, if we have two systems they say ‘we don’t know which way you play’. So don’t tell me that I don’t know what to do - I know exactly what to do.

"Of course I have a clear vision - we all have, together with the other coaches. What do you think we do - let them go out there, say good luck to them and say do what you want to do?

"I don’t understand people who think that. If it’s right or wrong, that’s another thing, but of course it’s clear what we do. Every minute we are together it’s absolutely clear."

Eriksson tweaked his tactics against Ecuador in the last 16 by putting Owen Hargreaves at right-back, Michael Carrick in midfield and fielding Wayne Rooney up front on his own.

It helped secure a 1-0 victory and now, with Gary Neville fit again, he has even more options ahead of the quarter-final against Portugal on Saturday.

He said: "Yes, we made changes against Ecuador but there’s a reason why you do things.

"Hargreaves can play right-back and he did it very well. The reason why we put in Michael Carrick in that game was they had two central midfielders, not three. They didn’t have a playmaker like Figo or Deco in the Ecuador team. Both were playing wide. There’s always a reason behind everything.

"You look at the opponents and at all the games they play in the World Cup, and you look at your own performances on videos to analyse things before you play. Of course there is a plan behind things."

Eriksson admits England’s football in the World Cup so far has not reached dizzy heights but it has certainly been effective with three victories and one draw so far.