Post by Taxigirl on Mar 13, 2004 15:46:56 GMT
www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,7-1127288,00.html
Sven Goran Eriksson has revealed that he believes England could meet Italy in this summer's Euro 2004 final.
The Swede is a big admirer of the current Italy side and a showdown with Giovanni Trapattoni's men in Portugal would be his ideal meeting.
"A beautiful final would be England v Italy. For an end like this I'd mmediately put my signature on a new deal," Eriksson told Corriere dello Sport.
The Swede admitted he is envious of Italy's wealth of attacking options ahead of Euro 2004 with the likes of Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano among their ranks.
The former Lazio boss believes Italy are one of the favourites for the tournament in Portugal because of the amount of talented players in their squad and he feels the finals in the summer will be one of the most competitive in recent years with a number of teams challenging for the title.
"In comparison to other editions, this time there are really all the most important sides: Italy, Germany, England, and France. Then there is Czech Republic, headed by my former player and Golden Ball winner Pavel Nedved," added Eriksson.
"In Portugal there will be the best of best.
"I envy Trapattoni. He's a lucky man having at his disposal so many forwards in which choosing is important and in a fundamental competition like the European Championship this counts," added Eriksson.
Eriksson also compared England's young hope Wayne Rooney with Italy's new star Cassano and believes they could be the stars of the finals along with a number of other players.
The Swede revealed that he would not swap Everton striker Rooney for any of the best young talents going to the finals including Spain's Jose Antonio Reyes and Joaquin.
"Sincerely they don't seem to be so different. They have a few similar characteristics," said Eriksson.
"From a technical point of view Rooney is good too. And they both have a big talent.
"At the moment they seem to me the two emerging talents of the continent, but they aren't the only ones.
"All the national teams that will play at Euro 2004 have an interesting young player. Spain have two of them in Reyes and Joaquin. But, as for myself, I absolutely count my Rooney."
Sven Goran Eriksson has revealed that he believes England could meet Italy in this summer's Euro 2004 final.
The Swede is a big admirer of the current Italy side and a showdown with Giovanni Trapattoni's men in Portugal would be his ideal meeting.
"A beautiful final would be England v Italy. For an end like this I'd mmediately put my signature on a new deal," Eriksson told Corriere dello Sport.
The Swede admitted he is envious of Italy's wealth of attacking options ahead of Euro 2004 with the likes of Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano among their ranks.
The former Lazio boss believes Italy are one of the favourites for the tournament in Portugal because of the amount of talented players in their squad and he feels the finals in the summer will be one of the most competitive in recent years with a number of teams challenging for the title.
"In comparison to other editions, this time there are really all the most important sides: Italy, Germany, England, and France. Then there is Czech Republic, headed by my former player and Golden Ball winner Pavel Nedved," added Eriksson.
"In Portugal there will be the best of best.
"I envy Trapattoni. He's a lucky man having at his disposal so many forwards in which choosing is important and in a fundamental competition like the European Championship this counts," added Eriksson.
Eriksson also compared England's young hope Wayne Rooney with Italy's new star Cassano and believes they could be the stars of the finals along with a number of other players.
The Swede revealed that he would not swap Everton striker Rooney for any of the best young talents going to the finals including Spain's Jose Antonio Reyes and Joaquin.
"Sincerely they don't seem to be so different. They have a few similar characteristics," said Eriksson.
"From a technical point of view Rooney is good too. And they both have a big talent.
"At the moment they seem to me the two emerging talents of the continent, but they aren't the only ones.
"All the national teams that will play at Euro 2004 have an interesting young player. Spain have two of them in Reyes and Joaquin. But, as for myself, I absolutely count my Rooney."