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Eriksson looking for Rio's replacement
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Sven-Goran Eriksson has declared the race is on between John Terry and Jonathan
Woodgate for a starting role at the Euro 2004 finals.
The England coach admitted England would miss the presence of Rio Ferdinand,
who is appealing against his eight-month ban following his missed drugs test.
The chances are the Manchester United defender will still miss the summer
tournament.
In that case, Terry is in pole position to partner Sol Campbell, having started
each of England's past five internationals and impressing in each one.
Woodgate, meanwhile, continues to be plagued by injury problems and, allied to
his own past international suspension, he has yet to play a single game for
Eriksson.
But although the Newcastle centre-back has again been ruled out of the squad
being announced tonight for next Wednesday's friendly in Portugal, when Terry
will again partner Campbell, Eriksson is still impressed by his potential.
While Eriksson is virtually certain of every other position in his side for
next summer, he admitted: 'It's a race between Terry and Woodgate to show me
who's going to play there.
'There will be others as well, but from what I see today, it's going to be one
of those two. Gareth Southgate is playing well, he's another one. As for young
players, there is Anthony Gardner, who is injured now I think, Zat Knight and
Wes Brown.'
United have certainly missed Ferdinand's presence over recent weeks, with eight
goals conceded in their three games before today's FA Cup tie against
Manchester City.
'I'm sure any club or national team would miss Rio Ferdinand. I think he was
the best or at least one of the best central defenders at the World Cup,'
admitted Eriksson.
'He played in all the games and was fantastic. So of course if you don't have
players like that, you miss them on the pitch. But next Wednesday, it will be
John Terry and Sol Campbell and then we have to see further on about Woodgate
as well.
'It's a pity Woodgate is injured. He's very unlucky. He's doing very well but
every time we play, he is injured.'
Otherwise, fitness permitting, Eriksson has already virtually decided on his
Euro 2004 starting line-up - the team which, apart from the injured Michael
Owen, started in Turkey last October.
That involves David James in goal, Gary Neville and Ashley Cole at full-back,
Sol Campbell at centre-back, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and
Steven Gerrard in midfield, with Wayne Rooney up front with Owen.
Frank Lampard, Kieron Dyer, Wayne Bridge or Emile Heskey could still force
their way into that side, while injuries could always intervene, but there
are only a handful of friendlies left to impress the England coach.
Asked if he had virtually decided his line-up and squad, Eriksson admitted:
'Yes, I think so if everyone is fit. Of course, that can change and what I have
in mind was the last games and that was a long time ago. But if I should pick
the team and the squad today for Euro 2004, with everyone fit, it wouldn't be
that difficult.'
Despite featuring in central midfield for Real Madrid, his favoured position,
captain Beckham is nevertheless set to continue on the right flank, albeit
tucked in within a diamond formation, for England.
'He's always been in the centre for England!' joked Eriksson. 'We will probably
start with a diamond and that means David is central and to the right. I think
he's doing very well and is very important for Real in that position, working
extremely hard. I've seen him in one game and he did very well. I've also seen
him on television.
'I don't know if he's a better player today than he was before the move, but he
's not worse, that's for sure. Of course, experience of playing in a different
league with a lot of good players helps.'
Asked if he would recommend the move abroad to other England players, Eriksson
admitted: 'It has surprised me there are so few English players playing
outside England.
'But if you play for Manchester United or Real Madrid, it's more or less the
same. The same with Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle. At Arsenal, there aren't
too many English players - maybe two or three - so it doesn't really matter.'
Eriksson has again moved to quell speculation over his future by insisting that
he will still be England coach after this summer's European Championships.
When asked if he would still be England coach after the Euro 2004 finals,
rather than taking over from Claudio Ranieri at Stamford Bridge, Eriksson
replied: 'Yes.
'I don't have any offers to go anywhere else, absolutely not, and that's the
truth. But if I lose three games in Portugal, what will your opinion be about
the Swedish manager then? At the same time, you want me to sign until 2008.'
The Football Association have, indeed, sought to draw a line under the whole
affair, while pledging their support to the England coach by offering him a
two-year contract extension until 2008.
However, while talks are expected to open in the next couple of months between
Eriksson and chief executive Mark Palios, no immediate agreement is anticipated
.
Eriksson admitted: 'I have to think about it to commit myself for another two
years. That's a great commitment, I think. One day it might be changed. I
haven't talked to Mark Palios for a long time now.'
Many figures at the FA would prefer the situation to be resolved before this
summer's tournament, but Eriksson admitted: 'I don't know about that, I think
that you think about it much more than I do.'
Asked if he would actually prefer to discuss it after the European Championship
s, he responded with a simple 'maybe'.
Instead, Eriksson prefers to concentrate on the fact he has already committed
himself to England until after the 2006 World Cup.
'I am amazed and surprised every time [this question ] comes up as I have a
contract. People seem to have forgotten that I have a contract until 2006 and
nothing has been changed from that,' he declared.
'I don't think that I'm in an impossible situation. The people around me are
very quiet, calm and not worried at all. The speculation carries on
though - all because of a cup of tea!
'I always said that I have a contract until 2006 and nothing has been changed
and that's it. I don't want to comment on it every day, I don't think it's
fair.
'
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