Fuente : UEFA (English)
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FIFA World Cup: England make it easy for Eriksson

/noticias.info/ While other international coaches are still weighing up their options with regard to their teams for next year's FIFA World Cup finals, Sven-Göran Eriksson is in the happy position of virtually knowing his strongest England XI already. With the exception of Sol Campbell and Michael Owen, it is likely to be the side involved in the first half of Wednesday's friendly with Denmark in Copenhagen.

Questions answered
England have been a stable ship for some time, ever since UEFA EURO 2004™ established Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard as the undisputed first-choice central midfield pairing and Wayne Rooney as a player of genuine international class. In addition, Paul Scholes announced his retirement from the squad following the Portugal tournament, which also simplified Eriksson's midfield options.

Four qualifiers
England have a busy autumn with four competitive games to follow this week's friendly. They face Wales in Cardiff on 3 September, travel to Northern Ireland four days later and in October finish their qualifying series with home matches against Austria and Poland. England lie second in Group 6, two points behind Poland having played a game less.

Settled team
So settled are England that the notion of experimentation no longer applies. Eriksson intends starting in Copenhagen with the team that next month will attempt to claim their sixth successive qualifying victory.

Defoe for Owen
That means Jermain Defoe will come in for Michael Owen who is suspended for the Wales fixture. It is also the only change from the side that beat Azerbaijan in the last qualifying game in March.

Terry's chance
Campbell is sidelined for the first weeks of the season through injury and that gives Chelsea FC captain John Terry the chance to cement his place alongside Rio Ferdinand. Campbell has been Eriksson's first choice but so impressive was Terry last term that many expect him to become Ferdinand's partner should England reach the Germany finals.

Club rivalry
The only other position still to be tied down is the left midfield role which Joe Cole will fill in Copenhagen. However, he has not started the campaign in José Mourinho's first XI at Chelsea and that could yet provide an opportunity for new team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips who has dropped out of this week's squad with a knee injury.

Eriksson's best
"It does suggest continuity," agreed Eriksson when asked about his settled lineup. "Of course, it is more difficult to know who is in good form in August because they have only played one league game. We will see during the season whether something is going to happen. This ten or eleven are the best we have in the country during the last season.

'Good chance'
"I am going to play the best team that can play against Wales. Jermain Defoe looks very sharp, he's a good finisher. It is a very good chance for him."

Stronger and more experienced
Looking ahead to the World Cup in Germany, Eriksson said: "If you compare 2002 and 2004 with what is going on next summer, we are stronger. We are more experienced, have the right age of players. I hope that we are one of four, five or six nations that can win it."

'Special season'
David Beckham was guaranteed a starting place even before Wright-Phillips's withdrawal and the England captain's thoughts are also turning to Germany. "For any player in the England squad, any national team leading up to the World Cup finals, it is always a special season.

Unity and togetherness
"The whole country is starting to get excited. The togetherness that is shown is the best in the world. It shows the unity of our country. I believe we have got the experience in the team and the raw talent coming through. I think it is the best squad we have had for years." notas_de_prensa_archivo