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Premature adulation Eriksson needs time to prove he's the right man
Amid all the predictable knee-jerk euphoria of England's 3-0 friendly win over Spain, it must have been encouraging for the English Football Association's top brass to hear their new -- and in many quarters controversial -- hire Sven Goran Eriksson remain grounded. While the press were reaching for the heavens, proclaiming the victory as England's second soccer coming, debutant national coach Eriksson had his feet rooted to terra firma. That, among a multitude of other things, is what Swede Eriksson needs to bring to English football's table. A sense of perspective. "Don't try to fly and say you've won the World Cup," said Eriksson after the Villa Park triumph. "That would be a mistake." It's a mistake the English media make time and again. Beat highly-rated Spain and England are the best thing sliced bread. Lose to supposedly inferior opposition and the England coach is one slice short of a loaf. The roller-coaster ride needs to end. England are neither one thing nor the other. They haven't been the best since 1966. They haven't been the worst Europe's had to offer either, although they've very often been decidely average. So why the newspapers talked of a "new era dawning brightly", "Eriksson passing with flying colours" and "England amaze everyone," Eriksson was only too happy to rein them all in.
Yes, he was clearly delighted with his start in a job many jingoistic English supporters believe should never go to a foreigner. But he's been around the game long enough -- largely with great success -- to appreciate World Cup qualifying games against Finland and Albania later this month might not bring such admirable performances or winning results.
"I know that in football, every game is one story, Eriksson said. "The next game, who knows? We could be unlucky or not have the same confidence, and in football, you can fail." Should England fail against the Finns or Albanians, games they simply have to win to resurrect realistic automatic qualifications hopes for World Cup 2002, they will be roundly condemned. Eriksson too. But England still won't be the worst national team around. Emphatic wins still won't make them the best. If Eriksson is to make them the latter once again, he needs that precious commodity: time. He doesn't need the yo-yo reactions and self-important wisdom of scribes who, the last time I looked, had never won an England international in their lives. Phil Jones is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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