Post by Taxigirl on Jun 21, 2004 9:18:34 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3788187.stm
MATCH DETAILS
Group B, Lisbon
Monday 21 June, 1945 BST
BBC COVERAGE
Live on MOTD from 1930, BBC1
Sven-Goran Eriksson has promised England will not play for a draw against Croatia on Monday.
Eriksson's team only need one point to qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 - but they will look for a win.
"We have to go out and try to play our game - try to defend well, try to attack well and try to win the game," coach Eriksson told BBC Sport.
"I don't think we are a team who can play for a 0-0 draw. The approach must be to attack and score goals."
England only needed a draw four years ago at Euro 2000 to qualify from their group, but lost 3-2 to Romania after Phil Neville conceded a late penalty.
Eriksson was not in charge then - his predecessor Kevin Keegan was at the helm - but the Swede is determined not to let history repeat itself.
He said: "When we have the ball, if we can, we should attack them. That will create problems for Croatia.
"Just sitting there waiting for the ball to come back is very dangerous."
Croatia are in buoyant mood after their impressive 2-2 draw against France, and Eriksson said: "I'm full of respect for Croatia. They are a good team.
"In the second half against France they played extremely well. They are full of confidence and on counter-attacks they are extremely dangerous.
"We will have to play very good football if we want to go through.
Eriksson, whose team will play Portugal or Greece in the quarter-finals should they get there, also backed Michael Owen to score against Croatia, despite substituting the striker in both of England's opening games.
He said: "Michael will start the match again.
"He played better against Switzerland than against France - he was more lively and took more initiative.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he starts to score goals on Monday."
Eriksson has asked captain David Beckham and experienced defender Gary Neville to watch over 18-year-old star Wayne Rooney, who has been targeted for special treatment by Croatia.
Coach Otto Baric has admitted he may look to exploit the volatile temperament which has seen Rooney pick up a yellow card at Euro 2004.
But Eriksson insisted there would not be any thought of leaving out the Everton star.
"As a manager, I can't think about leaving him out and hoping we win the game anyway. He has to play against Croatia, and that's it."
Eriksson will have to do without Owen Hargreaves after he was ruled out of the Group B game with a stomach upset.
Eriksson told BBC Five Live: "Owen is not very well. I'm almost sure he is not available - he's not eaten for 48 hours."
Disappointed to be without Hargreaves, he continued: "He is very useful when you want to defend a result - he can play anywhere in the midfield and when he comes on he's always ready and always aggressive.
"He can keep the ball and is very strong."
On a positive note fitness-wise, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Sol Campbell all trained on Sunday, while Nicky Butt managed some light work.
Butt damaged medial knee ligaments in training earlier in the tournament but has stayed on in Portugal.
Eriksson said: "He has started running and jogging a little and it's getting better and better so it's very positive for him and for us. So if we go further who knows?
"If we reach the semi-finals he may be ready but it's very difficult to say for sure."
The Croatia match takes place in the Stadium of Light in Lisbon, the scene of England's dramatic 2-1 defeat to France in their opening group game.
"I don't think we'll lose another game like we lost that one," Eriksson added.
The Swede, who is unlikely to name an unchanged side, insists he still has confidence in Rooney's strike partner Michael Owen - despite substituting him in both games so far.
"All the world knows he is a great goalscorer and sooner or later, he will score," said Eriksson
"Give him one chance, and the ball is there.
"Talking in general, of all the strikers I've had in the past 20 years, it's always a problem if they don't score in three or four games.
"But I think Michael Owen played better against Switzerland than in the first game and I'm sure he will play even better again against Croatia.
"I cannot you tell you I'm sure he will score a goal but I wouldn't be surprised at all.
"He feels he's not been playing extremely well so he's very hungry and he wants to show that."
Darius Vassell has been the man brought on to replace Owen in both games so far.
But Eriksson added: "I hope it does not damage his (Owen's) confidence. In football today, almost every team uses three substitutes. It's one of the weapons you have as a manager."
Eriksson has been told that his job as England coach will be safe regardless of the result against Croatia.
MATCH DETAILS
Group B, Lisbon
Monday 21 June, 1945 BST
BBC COVERAGE
Live on MOTD from 1930, BBC1
Sven-Goran Eriksson has promised England will not play for a draw against Croatia on Monday.
Eriksson's team only need one point to qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 - but they will look for a win.
"We have to go out and try to play our game - try to defend well, try to attack well and try to win the game," coach Eriksson told BBC Sport.
"I don't think we are a team who can play for a 0-0 draw. The approach must be to attack and score goals."
England only needed a draw four years ago at Euro 2000 to qualify from their group, but lost 3-2 to Romania after Phil Neville conceded a late penalty.
Eriksson was not in charge then - his predecessor Kevin Keegan was at the helm - but the Swede is determined not to let history repeat itself.
He said: "When we have the ball, if we can, we should attack them. That will create problems for Croatia.
"Just sitting there waiting for the ball to come back is very dangerous."
Croatia are in buoyant mood after their impressive 2-2 draw against France, and Eriksson said: "I'm full of respect for Croatia. They are a good team.
"In the second half against France they played extremely well. They are full of confidence and on counter-attacks they are extremely dangerous.
"We will have to play very good football if we want to go through.
Eriksson, whose team will play Portugal or Greece in the quarter-finals should they get there, also backed Michael Owen to score against Croatia, despite substituting the striker in both of England's opening games.
He said: "Michael will start the match again.
"He played better against Switzerland than against France - he was more lively and took more initiative.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he starts to score goals on Monday."
Eriksson has asked captain David Beckham and experienced defender Gary Neville to watch over 18-year-old star Wayne Rooney, who has been targeted for special treatment by Croatia.
Coach Otto Baric has admitted he may look to exploit the volatile temperament which has seen Rooney pick up a yellow card at Euro 2004.
But Eriksson insisted there would not be any thought of leaving out the Everton star.
"As a manager, I can't think about leaving him out and hoping we win the game anyway. He has to play against Croatia, and that's it."
Eriksson will have to do without Owen Hargreaves after he was ruled out of the Group B game with a stomach upset.
Eriksson told BBC Five Live: "Owen is not very well. I'm almost sure he is not available - he's not eaten for 48 hours."
Disappointed to be without Hargreaves, he continued: "He is very useful when you want to defend a result - he can play anywhere in the midfield and when he comes on he's always ready and always aggressive.
"He can keep the ball and is very strong."
On a positive note fitness-wise, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Sol Campbell all trained on Sunday, while Nicky Butt managed some light work.
Butt damaged medial knee ligaments in training earlier in the tournament but has stayed on in Portugal.
Eriksson said: "He has started running and jogging a little and it's getting better and better so it's very positive for him and for us. So if we go further who knows?
"If we reach the semi-finals he may be ready but it's very difficult to say for sure."
The Croatia match takes place in the Stadium of Light in Lisbon, the scene of England's dramatic 2-1 defeat to France in their opening group game.
"I don't think we'll lose another game like we lost that one," Eriksson added.
The Swede, who is unlikely to name an unchanged side, insists he still has confidence in Rooney's strike partner Michael Owen - despite substituting him in both games so far.
"All the world knows he is a great goalscorer and sooner or later, he will score," said Eriksson
"Give him one chance, and the ball is there.
"Talking in general, of all the strikers I've had in the past 20 years, it's always a problem if they don't score in three or four games.
"But I think Michael Owen played better against Switzerland than in the first game and I'm sure he will play even better again against Croatia.
"I cannot you tell you I'm sure he will score a goal but I wouldn't be surprised at all.
"He feels he's not been playing extremely well so he's very hungry and he wants to show that."
Darius Vassell has been the man brought on to replace Owen in both games so far.
But Eriksson added: "I hope it does not damage his (Owen's) confidence. In football today, almost every team uses three substitutes. It's one of the weapons you have as a manager."
Eriksson has been told that his job as England coach will be safe regardless of the result against Croatia.