England Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned the Football Association they must appoint his successor before this summer's World Cup to avoid any harm to England’s Euro 2008 qualification prospects.

Eriksson is due to step down from the post after the World Cup Finals in Germany, and has made it clear he does not want to have any involvement in the FA’s recruitment process, telling FA chief executive Brian Barwick he does not want to be asked for advice for who to replace him.

“We must have a manager before the World Cup starts. If we wait until after, It's too late. England have to play a friendly in August, then qualification for Euro 2008 starts in September so of course they have to do it before the World Cup.” Eriksson told BBC Radio Five Live.

The FA board are due to meet on Monday to come to a decision on the process of working out a shortlist of candidates but Eriksson stressed his wish not to be asked for advice from the FA.

“I told Brian [Barwick] that I don't want to have a question like that,” said Eriksson.

“I think that's fair because I had this job for five years, but what they want after that shouldn't involve me. I want to do a great World Cup, hopefully winning it, and that's it.”

He also believes that England can go at least go one better than their quarter-final defeat by Brazil four years ago, saying: “Hopefully we will go further than that and I'm quite sure we will, because I am very confident.

“I am more confident now than four years ago and two years ago (at Euro 2004 in Portugal) because the squad is much stronger.

“The only thing which I always say is hopefully there will not be a lot of injuries and too many tired players but we have one extra week (to prepare) so that will be good.

“You have to remember we are not the only team at the World Cup, there are teams like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Holland and so on.

“I always said I think we are one of four or five teams that could win it, and I believe that very strongly.

“Since I was a boy my dream was always the World Cup!” finished the Swede.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati