Eriksson places trust in youth

IN a land which venerates experience and old age, Sven-Goran Eriksson will turn to the innocence and energy of youth as the fuel for England’s World Cup campaign.

Youth and pace have formed the cornerstones of his 16-month transformation of the team and, even on the biggest stage, he will not waver in those beliefs.

Against Sweden in tomorrow’s opening game, Eriksson is set to send out a group of outfield players with an average age of just under 24.

Six of them have fewer than 25 caps, four have less than 10. Only five have played at the World Cup finals before.

It is in the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Darius Vassell and Ashley Cole, who all still qualify for the U-21 side, that Eriksson will place his trust in Saitama and possibly beyond.

Hargreaves’ mature displays in the two Far East friendlies has forced him ahead of Nicky Butt into the midfield anchor role, while fellow 21-year-old Vassell will spearhead the attack alongside Michael Owen.

With Emile Heskey pushed out to the left flank in a midfield quartet, Eriksson has armed his team with the one quality which can really unsettle a compact, painstakingly-drilled Swedish side — raw pace.

With Ashley Cole and Danny Mills, who is preferred to Wes Brown at right-back, asked to roam forward down the flanks, Eriksson will attempt to seize the initiative.

There is some experience in the form of 38-year-old David Seaman in goal, David Beckham — earning his 50th England cap — and Paul Scholes, as well as Sol Campbell alongside Rio Ferdinand in defence.

The captain’s return has proved the pre-match lift the side needed, with Eriksson hailing him as the best free-kick expert in the world.

England face many hurdles. They have not beaten Sweden in 34 years and Eriksson’s native country are notoriously hard to defeat. The match, tight as it inevitably will be, could be decided by one stroke of genius. The stage is therefore set for Beckham to make the difference.

Eriksson said: ‘‘If you have someone like David in your team, you are more confident for free-kicks and corners. He is the best in the world, although Roberto Carlos is not bad either.’’

England may have won just once in their past seven games but when it matters most — in their six competitive matches under Eriksson — they have won five and drawn once.

There is perilously little room for manoeuvre in the group but the stage is set. For Eriksson, this is where the hard work really starts.