England v Portugal - Preview

Eriksson ready to slay Scolari jinx as England eye last four

England are determined to strike it third time lucky on Saturday by hurdling Portugal and their charismatic coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Twice in two tournaments under Sven-Goran Eriksson, England have been bundled out in the last eight, suffering the crushing disappointment of early exits at championships they had entertained hopes of winning.

Swedish head coach of the English team Sven-Goran Eriksson looks on during a training session at the Mittelbergstadion in Buhlertal 28 June 2006. England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned his players not to rise to any provocation from Portugal in their quarter-final on June 01, wary that referees are brandishing cards on a whim. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS

The common thread linking those twin ejections at the 2002 World Cup and European Championship in 2004 is Portugal coach Scolari.

Eriksson, who has insisted that England will be able to raise their game when it counts, may never have a better chance of getting the Scolari monkey off his back as Portugal struggle to regroup after suspensions to key players.

"I don't feel it's me against Scolari at all," he said. "It's England against Portugal, it's the quarter-final of the World Cup, and it's important to win it. I think we can."

Brazilian head coach of the Portuguese team Luiz Felipe Scolari celebrates at the end of the World Cup 2006 round of 16 football game Portugal vs. Netherlands, 25 June 2006 at Nuremberg stadium. Portugal won 1-O. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ

Eriksson, however, does not do revenge and makes no apologies for his reserved dug-out demeanour, which is in stark contrast to the arm-waving, gesticulating touch-line histrionics of Brazilian Scolari.

"I couldn't care less," Eriksson said when asked if he was bothered by the unflattering comparisons of his management style to Scolari.

"I've heard it for 30 years. Every time you lose a football game, something is wrong with the manager. I have no intention of changing. And if I haven't changed by now then I probably never will."

Yet regardless of whether Eriksson's management is to blame, it is undeniable that England have been far less than the sum of their parts in four matches so far.

Having started the tournament lined up in 4-4-2, Eriksson is expected to persist with a 4-1-4-1 formation against Portugal.

Teammates mob English midfielder David Beckham (L) celebrates with English defender Ashley Cole (R) after he scored the game's first goal off a free kick during the round of 16 World Cup football match between England and Ecuador at Stuttgart's Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium, 25 June 2006. England were leading 1-0 in the second half. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE

With Gary Neville expected to return from a calf injury, Owen Hargreaves is likely to move into the holding role, allowing midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard licence to surge forward in support of lone striker Wayne Rooney.

David Beckham knows that another below-par performance could well spell the end of England's World Cup.

"It has to click," the England skipper said. "Because we're talking about the quarter-final of a World Cup, the biggest competition in the world.

Beckham's loyal lieutenant Neville said that there could be no more excuses if England failed again.

"I believe there is a time and a moment for players to deliver, and I believe it is Saturday," said Neville.

Russian referee Valentin Ivanov shows the red card to Portuguese midfielder Deco during the World Cup 2006 round of 16 football game Portugal vs. Netherlands, 25 June 2006 at Nuremberg stadium. AFP PHOTO MARTIN BUREAU

"If we fail then we have to hold our hands up and say, 'we haven't delivered, that the talk about us being potential world champions was rubbish.' So this is it for us."

Eriksson has drilled into his players the need for discipline against Portugal, with John Terry, Jamie Carragher and goalkeeper Paul Robinson all just one yellow card away from suspension.

Portugal's players were involved in what was officially the dirtiest match in World Cup history on Sunday, when they downed Holland 1-0 in a brutal encounter that saw 16 yellow cards and four sendings off.

Among those to see red were key playmaker Deco and midfield enforcer Costinha, both of whom will be suspended against England.

Teams

England

Paul Robinson, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Owen Hargreaves, David Beckham (capt), Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Wayne Rooney: Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson

Portugal

Ricardo, Miguel, Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Petit, Maniche, Luis Figo (capt), Tiago, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pauleta: Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

Referee

Horacio Elizondo (ARG)