Eriksson: I'll win World Cup

Eriksson (back, centre) watches England lose to Italy

Sven Goran Eriksson insists he can win the World Cup for England.

The coach-in-waiting has ruled out any chance of triumphing in Japan and Korea in 2002 - but he believes he will be able to turn the English into world-beaters in time for Germany in 2006.

Eriksson watched in the stands as a team of youngsters led by temporary coach Peter Taylor produced a creditable display on the way to a 1-0 defeat by Italy in Turin on Wednesday.

The Swede announced he was impressed with what he had seen and declared that the raw materials were there to take England back into the international elite after a poor couple of years.

The new coach was impressed with what he saw in Turin

"The World Cup in 2002 is too soon," he admitted in The Sun, "but 2006 is a real possibility. I'm very impressed. The future looks good.

"Managing England is one of the greatest jobs in football. It was not hard to say yes.

"Now I want to be a world champion within my five years in charge. That's the ultimate for a coach. I always look to have high goals."

Eriksson is due to take over the national squad at the end of the season, when he is released from his current job of head coach at Italian club Lazio.

He was appointed as England boss as successor to Kevin Keegan, who quit after the 1-0 home defeat by Germany in a World Cup qualifier last month.

The World Cup in 2002 is too soon, but 2006 is a real possibility - I'm very impressed, the future looks good

  Sven Goran Eriksson

Eriksson is not afraid to make bold predictions - indeed he believes such positive thinking is the only way to succeed in football.

"You must never limit yourself," he told The Mirror. "That is something I will never do with England.

"Look at Valencia in the Champions League last season. They said their goal was to reach the final last year, but did not talk about winning it.

"When they got there they had no mental strength or energy left for the final and they lost to Real Madrid."