Eriksson backs ‘mature’ England to reach World Cup final
May 27th, 2010 - 1:34 pm ICT by ANILondon, May 27(ANI): Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson reckons that the Three Lion’s Golden Generation are now mature enough to mount a serious challenge in next month’s World Cup in South Africa.
“I think and I hope England will reach the semi-final and why not the final? They are better than the last World Cup. Many of the players are the same, but more mature now,” The Sun quoted Eriksson, as saying.
Eriksson’s hopes in 2006 had rested on the shoulders of striker Wayne Rooney, but he broke a bone at the end of the season and was not 100 percent fit for the tournament.
The 62-year-old further said that Rooney, who is in red-hot goal scoring form for Manchester United, would be an even greater force than before.
“Wayne Rooney comes in on the back of a great, brilliant season. He was already very good when he was 16-17 and today he is mature and of course he is better,” Eriksson said.
“Maybe he will be even better four years ahead - he is still young, but he is now one of the top players in the world,” he added. (ANI)
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Tags: brilliant season, england manager, golden generation, lion, london, manchester united, shoulders, south africa, sun, wayne rooney, world cup