Cup draw creates dilemma for Eriksson

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson did himself few favours at today’s FA Cup semi-final draw.

Eriksson and Football Association chief executive Mark Palios presided over the last-four pairings at Soho Square, and both must have thought along the same lines as they pulled out the numbered balls.

For Eriksson, it means England’s final warm-up game in Sweden on March 31 before he names his definitive squad of 22 in mid-May for this summer’s Euro 2004 finals is now sandwiched by two mammoth Arsenal v Manchester United clashes.

Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson first go head to head three days previously in a Barclaycard Premiership encounter at Highbury, followed a week later by an FA Cup semi-final.

Given the importance of both fixtures, Eriksson should brace himself for a number of withdrawals from his squad for the match with the Swedes in Gothenburg, disrupting his plans as he counts down towards Euro 2004 in Portugal.

The other semi-final is an all-Nationwide League affair, with Sunderland to face either Millwall or Tranmere.

Eriksson will, as always, remain in close contact with Wenger and Ferguson prior to the friendly with Sweden as he said: “They are two very big games for both sides, but it’s also the last friendly we have before we pick the squad for Portugal.

“But I will talk to them. Normally I speak with the managers or the doctors. As always when it’s a friendly game I must be aware of which players might have some problems because it’s always very stupid to risk being badly injured in a friendly.

“For sure, I will be at the Arsenal-Manchester United game because there are a lot of good football players, a lot of English football players as well, so I’m looking forward to that very much.”

Alex Ferguson will be hoping the game goes the same way as the last semi-final between the sides five years ago when Ryan Giggs scored a solo stunner to win a replay.

“I thought we would get Arsenal,” said a stoical Ferguson, who has never lost a domestic semi-final in his 18 years as United manager.

“I just felt we would. I can smell these things. There is a closeness between the two sides which is emphasised by the results of our last few matches.

“We’ve had two draws and one victory each in the last four games. Their form has been better than ours this season, but Villa Park is a good venue for us.”

For Sunderland, Millwall and Tranmere, the draw means one of them is also guaranteed a place in next season’s UEFA Cup assuming both Arsenal and United are again in the Champions League.

The financial rewards that come with it, especially in Sunderland’s case after their relegation from the top flight last season and the players they have had to move on to save money, are an added bonus.

Reflecting on the prospect of European football, Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy, whose former club Millwall face a replay at Second Division Rovers after yesterday’s 0-0 draw at The New Den, said: “It’s a nice thought.

"It will be nice to get there and if we do get European football it will be fantastic. It’s better than getting in via the Fair Play League, that’s for sure.”

Millwall assistant manager Ray Wilkins believes his side will need little by way of motivation for the sixth-round replay with Rovers in eight days’ time.

“I don’t think we have to say too much do we?” commented Wilkins.

“It’s as simple as that. We have to go and win at Tranmere, and then there’s that little carrot of Sunderland in the semi-final.

“It’s breath-taking; we have an opportunity of playing a team in our own division in the semi-final.

"That is absolutely fantastic.

“But we’ve a very tough game against Tranmere coming up. They’ve a fabulous cup pedigree and I’m sure the game at Prenton Park will be an extremely difficult one for us.”

For outsiders Tranmere, manager Brian Little laughs off talk of Europe as he said: “Jokingly we talked about Europe in the dressing-room, and it is a joke, but you can have a bit of fun in football, can’t you?

“The players are light-hearted and happy and they’re enjoying thmselves. Deep down we don’t want it to stop.”