Eriksson admits he is no Churchill but feels he will inspire

By George Burns Jun 30, 2006, 17:26 GMT

Gelsenkirchen - Sven Goran Eriksson feels he can inspire his England team to victory over Portugal in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen.

The England coach has been criticized for his unemotional style in the past.

Former international Gareth Southgate famously criticized Eriksson's half-time team talk during England's quarter-final loss to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup saying, 'What we needed in there was Churchill, but what we got was (then Conservative Party leader) Iain Duncan Smith'.

But Eriksson said at Friday's final press conference before the clash with Portugal that he wouldn't change his style in an effort to inspire his players.

'I will be as I always am,' said the Swede. 'I will not read Winston Churchill tonight and will not try to be him.'

Frank Lampard has recovered from a twisted ankle he suffered in training Thursday while Gary Neville will start at right back after missing the last three England games with a calf strain.

With Michael Owen back in England after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament, Eriksson admitted that he is likely to persist with Wayne Rooney as the lone striker up front just as he did in the 1-0 defeat of Ecuador in the last round.

'The system we are using is the best we can use at this moment with the players we have,' he said.

The roof of the World Cup stadium in Gelsenkirchen will be closed for the game, a decision that Eriksson said would benefit both teams.

'It's good to avoid the sun tomorrow. I think it's good for us and it's good for Portugal,' he said.

'I have been (a coach) in Benfica when it was snowing. I don't thing they are used to the heat more than we are.'

Eriksson didn't think there would be much between the teams but felt his side was much stronger than two years ago when England went out to Luiz Felipe Scolari's side in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 on penalties.

'I think it will be a very tight game. To find space, that will be the key,' he said.

'I'm extremely confident that this team we have can go all the way. We have the quality to do it.'