England players must handle pressure – Eriksson

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson says Roy Hodgson’s squad must prove they can handle tournament pressure at Euro 2016 this summer.

The Swede led England to three major tournaments, his teams being eliminated at the quarter-finals stage on each occasion.

Eriksson feels that Hodgson’s troops are capable of better – perhaps even winning the European Championship – but he warned the players must first prove they can handle the pressure that will be on them.

Having won all 10 games in qualifying, Eriksson anticipates even more pressure than normal being piled on England this summer. “Without any doubt the pressure when you go to a big tournament is big – and many times, how I remember it, too big on the players,” he said.

“You talk about penalty shootouts – England is not famous for winning [them]. They feel the pressure. But hopefully Roy will do a good job and they will reach the semi-final or the final or win it.”

England have been paired with Russia, Wales and Slovakia in Group B at Euro 2016, their opening game being against the Russians in Marseille on June 11. Eriksson admits he was encouraged by the manner of England’s qualifying campaign and he sees no reason why they should not be travelling to France with confidence.

“They have a good team,” he added. “The qualification games, they won everything and they did it with style. They are playing good football as well, so why not?” England are 1.80 to win Group B while the Three Lions are 9.00 to win the tournament outright.