Former Three Lions boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has said that England have “big possibilities” to make the Euro 2012 semi-final or final.
I don’t know if the Three Lions have “big” possibilities, but anything can happen in a tournament. After all, Greece won the European Championships in 2004 after beating hosts Portugual 2-1 in the final.
“Why not win it? With a little bit of luck, not a lot of injuries and players not too tired, they have a chance,” the former England manager told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek show.
England have been drawn in Group D with France, Sweden, and the co-hosts Ukraine.
The Three Lions will face a renovated France side in their first game.
“They [France] have changed everything since the last World Cup and things are going very well for them, so I think they will do much better this time than they did in the World Cup,” Eriksson continued.
“It’s tough, but the squad England will have out there is very strong, so if England don’t have a lot of injuries, if they are not too tired – which always is a big issue, of course – they are the strongest team.
“They should be the strongest team in the group. They should go through to the quarter-finals and I am quite sure they will do that.”
If and only if England make it through to the knockout stages, they will either face Spain, Italy, Croatia, or the Republic of Ireland.
Eriksson stressed the importance of avoiding Spain and rightfully so.
“Let’s hope it’s going to be Italy,” Eriksson added.
“Spain, as we all know during the last years and the last two big tournaments, they have been outstanding.
“They have been for years now the best team in the world, so let’s hope it’s going to be Italy.
“If it was Spain, if Spain perform like they have been lately, probably England would not be the favourite, so that’s good in one way.
“If it’s Italy, England could be the favourite there.”
Like many football “experts”, Eriksson believes that Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is the ideal fit to replace Fabio Capello when he steps down following the 2012 European Championships.
“I would say Harry Redknapp is a very, very good choice,” he said.
“Of course there are others. Harry is English and if the FA wants an English manager I think he’s the perfect one.”
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