England ready to face Brazil again says Eriksson
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-01 09:43

Sven-Goran Eriksson says his current England team would make a better job of tackling Brazil in a World Cup quarter-final than his 2002 side.

Eriksson's men added a 2-0 win over Azerbaijan on Wednesday to last weekend's 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland in their bid to return to the world stage and avenge that exit at Shizuoka.

The Swede had no doubt England would now stand a better chance against the world champions, telling reporters: "We are more mature and technically we are better than we were in the World Cup.

"If we had to play them today, we are much much better physically than we were in 2002."

He would not be drawn, though, on their chances of beating the Brazilians, saying: "You're talking about two of the top teams in the world meeting each other, you need to have luck.

"But from what I've seen during the training sessions and these two games, we are on the right road."

England have changed markedly since that 2-1 defeat by a 10-man Brazil side, who had Ronaldinho red-carded shortly after scoring his 50th minute matchwinner.

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard now occupy the central midfield, instead of Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, who has retired from the international game.

Joe Cole has just become first-choice for the left-sided role which Trevor Sinclair started in Japan.

EXPLOSIVE ROONEY

Captain David Beckham, who was not fully fit in Japan, remains on the right while up front, Wayne Rooney's explosive talent has displaced Emile Heskey as Michael Owen's partner.

Eriksson is only too well aware that Rooney would be the lynchpin of England's World Cup campaign in Germany next year, assuming they qualified for the finals.

"All the teams who have won a big trophy normally have one star who can do something extra," Eriksson said.

"I think we have more than one star but of course Wayne Rooney today is something extra. In one and a half year's time, hopefully he will be even better."

Clearly pleased with six points since Saturday that have kept his side a point ahead of Poland at the top of Group Six, he said: "I am very, very happy with the two performances. We're playing very good football.

"I know we didn't meet Brazil or France, but it's a very balanced, strong team and the best technically we've had over the past four years."

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