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 is relishing the challenge of taking on his old rival Luiz Felipe Scolari in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.

Scolari has got the better of England in the last two major tournaments, coaching Brazil to victory over the Three Lions at the last World Cup and then taking charge of the Portugal side which broke English hearts at Euro 2004.

But England's Head Coach has reassured the nation that his side are better prepared this year, and is confident of being third-time-lucky against the Brazilian.

"This game is important for both us and Portugal. I think we will win, but their manager will think his team will win," Sven said.

"There are a lot of good managers at this World Cup, and maybe Scolari is the best - but maybe not.

"We have had an extra week's rest since the end of the domestic season than we did two and four years ago, so that could be very important in this game.

"We lost the game against Portugal on penalties in Euro 2004, but we have a better squad now than we did then, and it will be a special feeling to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup."

The Swede has been given a boost ahead of the game with news that Gary Neville could play in quarter final against Portugal.

The right-back has been out of action since the opening game of the tournament against Paraguay after picking up a calf injury, but he has returned to full training.

In the three games since the opening weekend, both Jamie Carragher and Owen Hargreaves have deputised for Neville, but now the man with 80 caps is back in the fold.

"I think Gary will be okay for Saturday but we have two more training sessions," Sven added. "If I think it's a risk he won't play but, at the moment, it's not a risk to play him."

Stay with TheFA.com as we continue our build-up to England v Portugal.