3 LIONS TOO TIRED TO LIFT WORLD CUP
TEN OUT OF TEN GAZZA Sven fears aces will suffer from winter burn-out
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EX-Three Lions boss Sven Goran Eriksson fears England will never win the World Cup again unless players get a winter break.
The former manager suspects Gareth Southgate’s squad will be too tired to triumph at this summer’s tournament in Russia.
And he said the nation may never relive its 1966 glory unless FA bosses give players like Tottenham Hotspur’s star striker Harry Kane a rest from the punishing Premier League treadmill.
Sven said the current squad was packed with “new young players” who were “doing great” in the league.
While he was “positive they will do well” at the World Cup, he did not think they would lift the trophy due to players’ “tiredness”.
The 70-year-old said: “They will never win the World Cup if there isn’t a winter break.”
It has been reported that talks are under way to introduce a February break from 2020.
There is slightly less pressure on Southgate, 47, to deliver in Russia than Eriksson faced during his spell as boss.
Luck
The Swede coached England’s so-called “Golden Generation” from 2001 to 2006 and lost in two World Cup quarter-finals.
He said: “In 2006 I thought we should win it. I thought there wasn’t any team better than us. So that was a huge disappointment.”
Eriksson also said of Southgate’s squad: “I think they have a good chance and I’m positive they will do well.
“They have a lot of new young players who are doing great in the Premier League but they need luck with injuries.
“That’s always a big problem for England – that and tiredness.”
Asked what advice he would offer Southgate, he said: “Do it your way, use your head, don’t listen to other people and don’t read the press.” Please post me free & without obligation full details of the Alta2 Pro hearing aid. Tick if pensioner.