England ready to offer olive branch to Turkey ahead of crucial qualifier

FRESH attempts to involve Sven-Goran Eriksson in peace initiatives ahead of England’s match in Turkey next month are to be made today but the chance of success appears bleak.

Senior figures in the Football Association are expected to bring up the possibility of a goodwill trip by the England coach to Istanbul when they meet their Turkish counterparts in a summit at UEFA's headquarters today.

Their idea would be for Eriksson and Turkey coach Senol Gunes to hold a joint press conference appealing for calm before and during the Euro 2004 qualifier, where England need only a draw on October 11 to make next summer's finals.