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Chastened England coach Eriksson vows no repeat of Denmark fiasco [Sat Aug 27th, 2005]
London (Reuters) - Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has vowed England will not repeat in a qualifying game their shambolic performance in the 4-1 friendly defeat by Denmark.
Eriksson names his squad on Sunday for the World Cup qualifiers in Wales and Northern Ireland next month with the criticism from England's capitulation in Copenhagen on August 17 still ringing in his ears.
"These are World Cup qualifiers we are talking about, it's life or death," the Swede told a media briefing. "Should we have a player not up for it then something is wrong.
"What happened in Denmark will not happen in a qualifying game. No chance. I trust the players I have."
England are second in Group Six with four matches to play, two points behind Poland but with a game in hand. They face Wales in Cardiff on September 3 and Northern Ireland in Belfast four days later.
"We have a job to do to get things right before we play Wales," said Eriksson.
"The second half (against Denmark) was a disaster. We were slow, lost shape and were not aggressive. It was like a motorway against our defence and our goalkeeper."
Denmark inflicted England's biggest defeat for 25 years, scoring three times in a seven-minute second half blitz at the Parken stadium, a collapse Eriksson remains at a loss to explain.
Complacency, he said, was not a factor but he admitted established players found it hard to lift themselves for friendlies.
"They are playing (club matches) in Europe. It's a problem," he said.
HUNGRY PLAYERS
"I was very happy in the United States (close-season tour), playing friendlies with hungry players and I think it is very difficult to be hungry when you have important games before and after friendlies.
"The clubs, they don't play friendly games except in pre-season. We have to play friendlies. We need them."
Eriksson expects Wales to be "very, very aggressive" as they seek to avenge a 2-0 defeat in Manchester last October.
"We have to have the right attitude. The attitude will be absolutely right, if not then there will be something seriously wrong," he said.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, battling to recover from a calf injury, will be included in the squad but Manchester United defender Gary Neville is definitely out after suffering a groin problem in UEFA Champions League action.
Eriksson expressed sympathy for Michael Owen's situation and hoped the England striker could quickly resolve his future.
Owen, who is keen to rejoin Liverpool, is also mulling over a move to Newcastle United after the Tynesiders had a bid in excess of 15 million pounds (US$27.11 million) accepted by Real Madrid.
"Something has to happen very soon. He wants to play football so I can understand him wanting to come back (to England)," said Eriksson.
"He is worried about his international place in World Cup year and I understand those worries. He is 25, it's a golden age for him."
Owen struggled to establish himself in his first season at Real but still ended the campaign with 13 league goals, starting 20 games and coming on as a substitute in another 16.
"If he plays as many games as he did last season I will pick him," said Eriksson. "If he doesn't play then it is a tricky one."
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