Post by Taxigirl on Jun 19, 2004 10:19:34 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3820891.stm
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has thrown his full support behind Michael Owen despite the striker's disappointing start to Euro 2004.
Owen has been substituted in England's games against France and Switzerland.
But Eriksson is convinced Owen will come good, saying: "It's football - it's not like a computer.
"It may be scoring a goal or getting confidence, but Michael Owen will score, I'm not worried at all about that at all."
He added: "You always have someone starting slowly. It's about small details."
And Eriksson believes Owen's cross for Wayne Rooney's first goal against Switzerland proved they are developing as a partnership.
"When Wayne Rooney drops to take the ball, he's absolutely fantastic. He and Michael Owen can play good football together, I have no doubts about that," he said.
Rooney has captured Portugal's imagination with his first two performances in the competition, although he will have to guard against a second booking that will earn him a ban.
Eriksson said: "I don't think he's worried about anything but, of course, I will talk to him about not taking a stupid card."
Eriksson also reiterated his belief in playing either a conventional 4-4-2 system or a midfield diamond formation.
"My conviction is that we can play two different systems very well," he said.
"If you look at the games we played since the World Cup, we have shown that against the best opponents in Europe.
"We have had marvellous games in the past with the diamond system."
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has thrown his full support behind Michael Owen despite the striker's disappointing start to Euro 2004.
Owen has been substituted in England's games against France and Switzerland.
But Eriksson is convinced Owen will come good, saying: "It's football - it's not like a computer.
"It may be scoring a goal or getting confidence, but Michael Owen will score, I'm not worried at all about that at all."
He added: "You always have someone starting slowly. It's about small details."
And Eriksson believes Owen's cross for Wayne Rooney's first goal against Switzerland proved they are developing as a partnership.
"When Wayne Rooney drops to take the ball, he's absolutely fantastic. He and Michael Owen can play good football together, I have no doubts about that," he said.
Rooney has captured Portugal's imagination with his first two performances in the competition, although he will have to guard against a second booking that will earn him a ban.
Eriksson said: "I don't think he's worried about anything but, of course, I will talk to him about not taking a stupid card."
Eriksson also reiterated his belief in playing either a conventional 4-4-2 system or a midfield diamond formation.
"My conviction is that we can play two different systems very well," he said.
"If you look at the games we played since the World Cup, we have shown that against the best opponents in Europe.
"We have had marvellous games in the past with the diamond system."