ENGLAND DODGE NASTY NORWAY
By Matt Barlow, PA Sport Chief Football Writer
Sven-Goran Eriksson admits he side-stepped a friendly with Norway because he feared they would put the boot into his World Cup plans.
England step up their World Cup preparations on Wednesday with a friendly against Uruguay at Anfield.
The England boss has chosen three warm-up games with World Cup opponents Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden in mind.
"Uruguay are the South American team most like Paraguay's style. They are quick with good technique. Then we play Jamaica, who are like Trinidad and Tobago."
Eriksson joked: "Then we should have chosen Norway, but they will kick us," before adding: "No, not kick us, but they will do everything to beat us.
"When Scandinavian teams play England, something happens inside and they have to beat England."
England opted for Hungary instead of Norway and their final friendly games, against the Hungarians on May 30 and Jamaica on June 3, will be at Old Trafford after confirmation that Wembley will not be ready.
But the Football Association's best-laid plans were dashed when Hungary boss Lothar Matthaus quit in December after failing to reach the World Cup finals.
Eriksson revealed: "Before choosing Hungary I phoned Lothar Matthaus and asked him if he wanted to play at Wembley.
"He said he'd love to have a friendly game against England so I told him he must do one thing and play 4-4-2 like Sweden.
"He said, 'No problem' but now he's not the manager."
England squad announced
(football365.com)
Saturday February 25 2006
Wes Brown returned to the England squad as Sven-Goran Eriksson launched his World Cup preparations.
Manchester United defender Brown has not played for his country since last summer's tour to the USA but returns to the squad to face Uruguay in a friendly on Wednesday.
United captain Gary Neville is also back after missing the last five internationals through injury.
Eriksson picked a 23-man squad with few surprises. Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher return after injury and Kieran Richardson and Darren Bent step back up to senior level after playing for the under-21 team.
Everton's Phil Neville and West Ham's Paul Konchesky drop out of Eriksson's squad. Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Jonathan Woodgate, Chris Kirkland, Owen Hargreaves, Kieron Dyer, Alan Smith and Michael Owen are all injured.
Eriksson confirmed he wanted to pick Woodgate for the friendly at Anfield but the former Newcastle defender was injured in Real Madrid's Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday.
The England boss said: "He's unlucky. Every time I decide to pick him, even in the past, he's been injured a few days before I announce the squad. The same has happened now.
"It's a big question mark of course. I hope he will play more regularly when he's fit because he's an extremely good football player and defender.
"But if he plays one game and misses the next, I don't know what to do because you can't change your 23 players once the tournament has started. You have to be careful."
Eriksson issued the same warning to his other injury victims. He wants proof of fitness before the squad leaves for Germany.
This means Campbell, a veteran of the last two World Cups for England, faces a serious fight for a place.
Campbell has not played since February 1 when he walked out at half-time of a Premiership game against West Ham.
Eriksson said: "I spoke to Sol some weeks ago. We had a discussion about things and he desperately wants to play at the World Cup.
"He's injured. He has an ankle problem. It's not for me to discuss what happened at Arsenal.
"I hope he will soon start to play for Arsenal on a regular basis because that's a must if he wants to play at the World Cup.
"If Sol plays regularly as Sol can play, then he will be picked for the World Cup.
"My only concern is that he's injured and not playing. It's the same with Woodgate and Dyer. If they don't play regularly that puts me in a situation because I'm responsible for the squad.
"The rules are the same for all the players. You must be physically fit."
Eriksson will start with his first-choice team against Uruguay but the players involved in the Champions League will probably not play 90 minutes.
The Swede said: "It's in my own interests as well to save them, not only for the clubs and the players.''
The England boss has chosen three warm-up games with World Cup opponents Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden in mind.
"Uruguay are the South American team most like Paraguay's style. They are quick with good technique. Then we play Jamaica, who are like Trinidad and Tobago.''
Eriksson joked: "Then we should have chosen Norway, but they will kick us," before adding: "No, not kick us, but they will do everything to beat us.
"When Scandinavian teams play England, something happens inside and they have to beat England."
England squad for friendly against Uruguay at Anfield on Wednesday:
Robinson (Tottenham), Green (Norwich), James (Man City); Young (Charlton), Bridge (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Ferdinand (Man Utd), King (Tottenham), G Neville (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool); Lampard (Chelsea), Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), J Cole (Chelsea), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Carrick (Tottenham), Richardson (Man Utd); D Bent (Charlton), Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Defoe (Tottenham).
