Buoyant England camp braced for Brazilian assault

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON declared his England players were showing no signs of pressure ahead of facing Brazil as he urged them to keep alive his lifelong ambition of winning the World Cup.

‘‘I know England have been waiting since 1966 to win the World Cup again. I have been waiting all my life,’’ he revealed ahead of tomorrow’s enticing quarter-final clash in Shizuoka.

Eriksson seems set to field an unchanged line-up for the third consecutive game, having restated his confidence that Michael Owen should be fit after a groin problem.

The striker missed training again yesterday along with Paul Scholes, who has a minor foot injury, but both are expected to take part in a full session today along with fit-again Owen Hargreaves and Darius Vassell.

Eriksson insisted that his players are full of confidence even though four-times world champions Brazil bar their path to a semi-final against Senegal or Turkey.

‘‘The players are calm, very calm, and they believe that they have an excellent chance. They are not frightened,’’ he declared.

‘‘We think Owen, Scholes and Vassell will all be okay for Friday.

‘‘Brazil’s samba football is normally very nice to watch if they have the time and space. What we have to do is play as we did against Argentina, be very compact and very aggressive.

‘‘If we give them space, we will have problems. I thought Belgium were a little unlucky in their second-round game and I believe we have a good chance.’’

Eriksson’s confidence is matched by Teddy Sheringham’s. Like his manager, the Spurs striker can feel a similar self-belief in the camp to that which took England to the brink of success at Euro 96.

"There is a sense of momentum. We felt we were going to do well in Euro 96 but, unfortunately, things didn’t quite go our way at the end,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s a feeling at the moment that we’ve got what it takes but we have to make sure that we produce that.

‘‘People expect great things from England and that puts great pressure on us.

‘‘But there was always a sense of the moment, that we would do well in Euro 96 and the feeling here is that we’ve got what it takes this time as well.’’

Asked if England can beat Brazil, Sheringham simply answered ‘‘yes’’.

Asked then whether England can win the World Cup, Sheringham’s response was just the same.

The Tottenham striker is fully aware of the dangers posed by Brazil but is relishing the prospect of taking on the South American side, even if he would love to be even more involved in the tournament.

‘‘If we get through to the semi-finals, it would be great to say we had beaten Brazil along the way,’’ he added.

‘‘It would have been nice to have had an easier route but it’s good to be playing the favourites in the biggest game of the World Cup.

‘‘The big nations are always going to come strong in the World Cup finals.

“Brazil may have struggled to get there but they have got players who have produced on the big stage time and time again.

‘‘Then again, there is no reason to be scared. If we play as well as we did against Argentina we have got a chance,” he said.

‘‘Brazil have got some outstanding individuals, but individuals don’t win games. It’s a team performance that we need.’’

Meanwhile, Brazilian central defender Lucio will be fit in time to take his place.

The Bayer Leverkusen player received a bad knock on his right knee in the 2-0 win over Belgium in the second round match on Monday and has not been taking part in the full training sessions.

“The knee is still sore but he will be okay for the England game,” said team doctor Jose Luis Runco.