ROARING ON
‘England can win, believe it!’ – terminally ill ex-boss Sven-Goran Eriksson gives emotional rallying cry to Three Lions
Sven bossed England from 2001-6 and never took us past the quarter-finals of a major tournament
SKIPPER Harry Kane can fire England to Euros glory tomorrow, insists Sven-Göran Eriksson.
The ex-Three Lions boss says Gareth Southgate’s heroes have the talent to smash Spain in Berlin.
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Pubs can stay open until 1am to toast a first major title on foreign soil, and Sven, 76, told The Sun: “Yes of course England can do it!
The Swede, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, urged Gareth Southgate to end 58 years of hurt and win for ex-Three Lions bosses like himself who never got as close.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Sven, 76, also hailed midfield ace Jude Bellingham as the key to beating Spain and lifting our first major title on foreign soil.
Sven bossed England from 2001 to 2006 and never took us past the quarter-finals of a tournament.
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But he said: “Gareth has learned from the mistakes we made — handling the mental block of penalties, in particular — and has gone further than any of us ever did.
“Now he, his players and the entire nation must know England can win. If you believe in something it can happen, and that includes beating Spain in the final.”
Sven believes Southgate’s achievement will trump even that of 1966 World Cup winning boss Sir Alf Ramsey should we triumph at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
We saw the real England
Sven, who will cheer us on from his home in Sweden, added: “The job of England manager brings with it a beautiful pressure.
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“I felt it. Sir Bobby Robson felt it. Every one of the 13 managers since Sir Alf will have felt it.
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“None of us succeeded, but no one has come closer than Gareth Southgate.
“By reaching a World Cup semi-final in 2018, the World Cup quarter-final and now a second successive Euros final, Gareth is certainly the best English coach since Sir Alf.
“Win in Berlin on Sunday and I believe he should be considered better.”
Spain and their wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who turns 17 today, have wowed at the tournament and go into tomorrow night’s final as firm favourites.
England are very, very good and they won fairly because they were the better team. Everything looks very possible now
Sven-Göran Eriksson
But England’s stars finally began to shine in the 2-1 win against the Netherlands and Sven said: “Last game against Holland they played very, very well especially the first half.
“I think we saw the real England in the first half.
“If they can repeat that — and I am sure they can — they have a very good chance against Spain.
Shoot out boost
“But they have to play like that for 90 minutes, 45 minutes as against Holland won’t be enough.
“England are very, very good and they won fairly because they were the better team. Everything looks very possible now.” Asked which player would decide the final, Sven said without hesitation: “Jude Bellingham of course — he’d have played in my team.”
Sven’s England record was defined by penalty shoot-outs as he was twice beaten by Portugal — in quarter-finals on spot-kicks at Euro 2004, and World Cup 2006.
But Southgate’s teams have won three shoot-outs from four — most recently in the Euros quarter-final against Switzerland.
Sven, who managed Manchester City from 2007 to 2008, revealed in January he has been suffering pancreatic cancer and was given “about a year” to live.
He enjoyed a five-year spell in charge of the Three Lions from 2001 while Southgate was still a player at Aston Villa then Middlesbrough.
In his first major tournament, the 2002 World Cup in Japan, Sven’s England lost 2-1 in the quarter-final to ten-man Brazil, the eventual winners.
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Then came the double exits to Portugal, and he left the role after the 2006 World Cup.
In contrast, Southgate, who won 16 of his 57 caps under the Swede, tomorrow leads England to a second major final in three years. Sven predicted: “It will be an open game and I think England have a big, big chance.
“And while I have not been feeling well in the past week or so, I will be watching the game from home.
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“I’d love to see England win. So would every one of the managers who has tried and failed to win a major trophy since 1966.
“Come on, Gareth. Do what we never could.”
OLLIE'S CALL TO ROAR ON THE LIONS
By Nick Parker and Robin Perrie
ENGLAND hero Ollie Watkins poses with a group of young fans — and called on them and supporters everywhere to roar us on to glory tomorrow.
His last minute goal against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final sent England to the final against Spain in Berlin.
Ollie, 28, said he had had a premonition about it — and has had another about tomorrow, but would not say what it was.
But he is feeling confident and said: “I’ve got that fire in my belly ready whenever I’m called upon to come on to the pitch again.”
Ollie praised the fans and said: “Their support is everything and they’ve been supporting us so well so far and hopefully they can keep going and be loud for us on Sunday.”
He also revealed that every member of the 26-man England squad is planning to have an identical commemorative tattoo inked if they win the trophy. ᐧ
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