Gerrard backs England’s post-season tour to United States

ENGLAND midfielder Steven Gerrard has backed Sven-Goran Eriksson’s post-season tour to the United States despite criticism from leading Premiership managers.

Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson had questioned the need for England to go on a two-match tour at the end of the domestic season, arguing that the players required a longer break.

However, Eriksson responded that the club bosses should be grateful to him for avoiding qualifiers in June and instead playing friendlies at the end of May against the United States and Colombia.

Now Liverpool midfielder Gerrard has joined the debate by stressing the need for the England squad to spend as much time as possible together.

“Being an England player, you don’t meet up all the time and sometimes it can be difficult because new players might be introduced to the squad or you might be trying new formations,” he declared.

“So you’ve got to take every chance that you have to meet up and get more experience. I’m sure that’s why Sven has put this end-of-season tour together.

“It comes out on the pitch when you see the togetherness we showed in performances against Turkey and Germany away.

“You see everyone fighting and working together. That comes from spending time together and getting used to each other on and off the pitch.

“I’ve been lucky enough to go to America a couple of times before and I’m really looking forward to it again. It’s a chance to mix with the players and get more caps and experience under your belt.”

Eriksson got a further boost when the FA confirmed yesterday that England’s players will get a four-week break before the 2006 World Cup. The FA Cup quarter-finals next season will be played on Wednesday to accommodate the change, and the FA Cup final will be the last game of the season on May 13.

The Premier League was unable to help in the matter as it stated it could not start the Premiership season a week earlier because of the clubs’ contractual arrangements.

An FA statement described the solution as being in “the widest-possible interests of English football in the World Cup year of 2006.”