Post by Taxigirl on Mar 30, 2005 8:16:19 GMT
skysports.planetfootball.com
by Peter ORourke
England coach Sven Goran Eriksson believes his side have improved as a team over the last year.
Eriksson is happy with the progress of the team since Euro 2004 and believes they are now a better squad.
England are on course to qualify for next summer's World Cup finals, as they currently head Group Six and Eriksson feels they have matured as a team.
"We are much better as a team than one or two years ago in that we keep the ball better as a team, which is important in international football," said Eriksson.
"It is hard to find anything negative about the performance [against Northern Ireland] and although we did not meet a France or an Argentina, it was a very good performance."
Meanwhile, Eriksson has hinted that Joe Cole can establish himself a regular in his plans if he can maintain his current run of form.
Cole inspired England against Northern Ireland last weekend, scoring the first goal in the 4-0 victory and Eriksson wants him to build on that performance against Azerbaijan on Wednesday.
"If he goes on playing like that, it's going to be very difficult to move him," added Eriksson.
"He just does not need to show Azerbaijan, but the rest of the world who he is and this is a good opportunity."
by Peter ORourke
England coach Sven Goran Eriksson believes his side have improved as a team over the last year.
Eriksson is happy with the progress of the team since Euro 2004 and believes they are now a better squad.
England are on course to qualify for next summer's World Cup finals, as they currently head Group Six and Eriksson feels they have matured as a team.
"We are much better as a team than one or two years ago in that we keep the ball better as a team, which is important in international football," said Eriksson.
"It is hard to find anything negative about the performance [against Northern Ireland] and although we did not meet a France or an Argentina, it was a very good performance."
Meanwhile, Eriksson has hinted that Joe Cole can establish himself a regular in his plans if he can maintain his current run of form.
Cole inspired England against Northern Ireland last weekend, scoring the first goal in the 4-0 victory and Eriksson wants him to build on that performance against Azerbaijan on Wednesday.
"If he goes on playing like that, it's going to be very difficult to move him," added Eriksson.
"He just does not need to show Azerbaijan, but the rest of the world who he is and this is a good opportunity."