SVEN-GÖRAN ERIKSSON wants England to finish top of their World Cup group, even if that means a tumultuous confrontation with Germany in the round of 16. The head coach claims that he intends to play his strongest team against Sweden on Tuesday night, although debate now centres on Michael Owen’s place in the starting XI.
Eriksson spoke supportively of England’s leading goalscorer yesterday, but he has hauled Owen to the substitutes’ bench after less than an hour in both of their victories in the tournament and the striker recognises that his place is uncertain. “I’m not worried,” he said yesterday. “If I’m sat on the bench, I’m sat on the bench. I’ve been on the bench in my career before. If the manager thinks it is the right thing, he’ll do it.”
Had England already won group B, Eriksson would have rested all of his first team on Tuesday, but he said yesterday that he would send out a side to beat Sweden — something England have not done since 1968 — even if it meant meeting the hosts in the last 16.
With Peter Crouch, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard on a booking, there must be a temptation at least to leave out Gerrard, but Eriksson claimed otherwise. “The only way I would leave out (players in danger of incurring a suspension) would be if we had already won the group,” the Swede said.
He has talked of deploying a holding midfield player against Sweden in readiness for tougher tests ahead and he could switch to a five-man midfield behind a lone striker in Wayne Rooney.
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Eriksson had to put his foot down to ensure that the Manchester United forward returned for the 2-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday. The Football Association was forced to call in two foot experts to examine the striker on the day of the game, ensuring that his insurance was valid, and to satisfy his club.
“I am stubborn and I was convinced that he could take part in the game against Trinidad,” Eriksson said. “I was never willing to accept that [he should not] because I thought he was match fit. There was a lot of discussions, some above my head.”
With Rooney available for selection, Owen in need of match action and Crouch scoring regularly, Eriksson has some big decisions to make before Tuesday, when a draw will secure top place in group B. Germany or Ecuador await next weekend.