The Eriksson effect

Eriksson gives England a bright, new outlook

By BBC Sport Online's chief football writer Phil McNulty in Athens

England's football team and coach Sven Goran Eriksson are starting to bear a remarkable resemblance - calm, patient, considered and mature.

And, most importantly of all, successful.

All these qualities were the keynotes of an England World Cup victory in Greece that hinted that the growing optimism surrounding the reign of Eriksson may not simply be another false dawn.

Greece coach Vasilis Daniil may be a beaten man when it comes to World Cup qualification, but he proved a shrewd judge when he claimed Eriksson's single most important influence on England was his calmness.

Eriksson in control

England's approach in Greece was a carbon copy of their victory in Albania, when a platform for victory was built on early solidity which laid the foundations for the second half flourish that brought the win.

Greece were bluster without substance, a side that easily lived down to the low expectations of a country seemingly apathetic about their national team.

Even the defiance and hostility of the Greek fans inside the open bowl of the Athens Olympic Stadium had a slightly hollow ring, with the histrionics in the stands more for effect than carried out with any real hope of unsettling England.

England looked very much like Sven Goran Eriksson's team. He has completed the transition in six short but highly successful months.

The Swede has stamped his personality all over their approach, and Eriksson has embraced both the history books and the country's football followers with five straight wins since succeeding Kevin Keegan.

Beckham milks the applause

The approaches of the two men could not be more different - and the same applies to the results.

England comfortably contained what little Greece had to offer with relative comfort, the supposedly threatening strike force of Nikos Machlas and Zissis Vryzas a powder puff pairing that barely caused a second of concern to Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown.

Eriksson employed Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as the midfield anchor, giving freedom to Paul Scholes and David Beckham to do the sort of damage they inflicted in the second half.

And up front Robbie Fowler had a magnificent first hour, acting as the link man and proving he can be a creator as well as a goal threat.

Patience

But if there was one striking aspect of England's win, a win that keeps hopes alive of automatic World Cup qualification, it was the measured and studied approach.

Whereas Keegan went to the sound of the drums, Eriksson prefers the quiet opening before a build up to the crescendo.

Eriksson has preached patience to his players, and this performance suggested the message has been received loud and clear.

It is clear from simply being around England's players that they have massive respect for their coach - a man who keeps a respectful and authoratitive distance from them and prefers the quiet word as opposed to fighting talk.

Eriksson, however, also has respect for his players.

And it is this partnership, coupled with the emergence of an outstanding young generation of players, that may make Eriksson England's right man in the right place at the right time.

Victory over Greece is no cause for fanfare in itself, but if the manner of victory is an indicator for the future, then the signs were bright.

The acid test awaits against Germany in Munich in September - but the mood of quiet authority exuded by Eriksson here in Athens is now being reflected in his team.

And that means Munich is not an assignment to be feared.