Why Sven Goran Eriksson really does have a chance of replacing Capello as England boss

By Martin Lipton

Published 23:11 09/08/11

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When he said it a few days ago it sounded like arrant nonsense.

After all, Sven Goran ­Eriksson’s departure from the England job at his final press conference in Baden Baden five years ago saw most of the country glad to see the back of him.

A vastly over-paid man who turned the “golden generation” into base metal, whose bedroom formations were far more adventurous than his footballing ones, who took us all for a ride but never had any idea where he was going.

So as the Swede, asked if he might consider taking up the “poisoned chalice” for a second time, answered, in all seriousness, “Yes”, few would have been convinced.

Understandably so, too. After all, we still view Eriksson through the prism of what might have been, rather than what actually was, the reign of “first half good; second half not so good”. But fast forward three years, to the summer of 2014, and things may look very different.

Nobody in their right mind truly expects Fabio Capello to deliver an England side that can be major contenders in Poland and Ukraine. Certainly not, for all Capello’s unquestioned desire to redeem his reputation, on the back of the debacle in South Africa.

Then, in all probability, Harry Redknapp will take over a squad quite likely to see international retirements stripping John Terry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole – and others – from his options as he thinks of making an impact in Brazil.

Even at this stage, getting out of the initial group looks tough – assuming England’s new-look squad is capable of qualifying for the flight to Rio.

But if there is another flop, following on from the humiliation of Bloemfontein and the shame of not even qualifying for Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren, it will be time for a revision of the Eriksson era. Yes, it is true, he raised ­expectations he could not, in the final analysis, meet.

Yet in 2002, England went to Japan without Gerrard, with David Beckham half fit, outplayed Brazil for 45 minutes with Michael Owen on one leg.

In 2004, having had the courage to trust in Wayne Rooney, it was arguably only the striker’s broken foot that threw the machine out of kilter against Portugal, and even then it was the cursed penalties that killed English dreams.

And while Eriksson’s team never got going in Germany, as the Swede’s laidback approach allowed the WAG culture to reach its peak in Baden Baden, it might have been a completely altered scenario had Rooney ever been fit enough to play as we all know he can.

Eriksson did reach three ­successive quarter-finals. What was then seen as a let-down may, in hindsight, be viewed in a completely different light – as a serious success.

If, as is often suggested, each England manager is the opposite of his predecessor, then who could represent the antithesis of ’Arry more than Sven?

Cold and dispassionate where Redknapp is all passion and hail fellow well met.

And, of course, if Eriksson is involved, we all know who will stand at his right shoulder, the new chief lieutenant, finally ending his playing days after that long twilight in Los Angeles.

Yes, Sven Goran Eriksson and David Robert Joseph Beckham. The Continental organiser and the man who would give anything to serve his country, who could do his managerial apprenticeship ­alongside an experienced hand who knows what the job is about.

A dream team? Maybe not today and we all hope Capello can get it right next summer, that his successor will take things on.

But by 2014, it may not look so far-fetched. And may look like the only way forward.

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