Eriksson defends record

Sven-Goran Eriksson came out fighting today as he defended his right to earn more than £4m (€5.96m) a year and challenged behind-the-scenes critics on the Football Association board to confront him face to face.

He also talked up his record as England coach so far, describing the Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat by Portugal on penalties as “unlucky” and insisting that only bad results would force him out of his post.