Eriksson fails to silence doubters

By Andrew McKenzie

LIVE BBC COVERAGE England v Liechtenstein Wed 10 Sept, KO 2000 BST Live on Match of the Day BBC TV football coverage

A win for England against Liechtenstein on Wednesday will see Sven-Goran Eriksson's side set a new post-war record for consecutive wins.

Since the embarrassing defeat at home to Australia England have reeled off seven straight victories.

Only a disaster against the side propping up Group Seven will prevent them from making it eight at Old Trafford.

On paper Eriksson's record since taking up the post in January 2001 is impressive.

In 31 games under the Swede England have won 18 and lost just four - with three of those defeats coming in friendlies.

The only defeat in 17 competitive games came against Brazil at the 2002 World Cup.

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But there remain huge question marks about Eriksson's ability to regularly get the best out of a promising group of players - as shown during England's current run.

While the win over Turkey at the Stadium of Light showed England at their best, too often they have shown the other side of their Jekyll and Hyde character.

Saturday's performance against Macedonia was just about par for the course.

QUALIFYING PROBLEMS Slovakia (h) won 2-1 Macedonia (h) drew 2-2 Liechtenstein (a) won 2-0 Turkey (h) won 2-0 Slovakia (h) won 2-1 Macedonia (a) won 2-1

For the fourth time in six qualifying games they have had to come from behind against sides not expected to cause problems.

Slovakia and Macedonia have led England both home and away in the current qualifying campaign.

Unconvincing displays against so-called lesser nations has been a common and worrying theme during Eriksson's reign.

In his first competitive game England beat Finland 2-1 but only after falling behind to a Gary Neville own goal.

By his own admission Eriksson has enjoyed more than his fair share of good fortune since arriving in England.

If it is true that your luck eventually evens itself out then England are set for a mighty fall very soon.

The concern is that if Macedonia and Slovakia can cause such problems for their incresingly frail backline, what will the big guns do to them should they make it to Portugal?

International matches are cup games and they are about qualifying Former England boss Graham Taylor Taylor's view

But that is to overlook the fact that under Eriksson England have almost always risen to the occasion against the better nations.

From the 5-1 mauling of Germany on their home turf to the hard-earned defeat of Argentina in Japan and the vital win over Turkey, England have shown they can produce when it matters most.

Eriksson will always have his critics - it comes with being England boss - whether it is for his use of Emile Heskey or a diamond midfield, his constant link with the Chelsea hot-seat or his off-the-field activities.

England are not the first to struggle through a qualification campaign.

Brazil were anything but convincing on their way to last year's World Cup, while France had their wobbles before Euro 2000 - but both finished as winners.

England have much to do before they can start talking about the possibility of becoming European champions.

But for now England can concentrate on getting the four points needed to win their group - by any means necessary.

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