Sven-Göran Eriksson, the former England manager, has sent a heartfelt message to current manager Gareth Southgate, urging him to achieve what no other coach has: win the European Championship for England.
Sven-Göran Eriksson recently sent a heartfelt message to England's manager, Gareth Southgate, urging him to accomplish what no other coach has achieved: win a European Championship for the national team.
Eriksson's encouragement comes at a time when England stands on the brink of history, preparing to face Spain in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin this Sunday at 20:00.
In his opinion column in The Telegraph, the former Benfica coach, who managed the England national team from 2001 to 2006, revealed that he will be watching the final from his home in Sweden. Despite his health challenges, Eriksson remains deeply invested in the success of the "Three Lions" and has extended his best wishes to Southgate and the team.
"The final on Sunday will be an open game, and I think England has a great opportunity. Although I haven't felt well over the past week, I will watch the game from home. I would love to see England win, just as every coach who has tried and failed to win a major trophy since [the World Cup in] 1996. Come on, Gareth, do what we never could," Eriksson wrote, expressing his hopes for the team to break the long-standing drought of major tournament victories.
Eriksson, 76, is battling terminal pancreatic cancer and revealed in January that doctors have given him "about a year" to live. Despite this, his spirit remains strong, and his connection to the England team is as passionate as ever.
Reflecting on his tenure as England manager, Eriksson recalled leading the team to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the same stage of Euro 2004, held in Portugal. Unfortunately, his campaigns ended in heartbreak, with the last two tournaments being lost on penalties against the Portuguese national team.
“Gareth has learned from the mistakes we made, particularly dealing with the mental block of penalties, and has gone further than any of us did. Now he, his players, and the entire nation must know that England can win. If they believe in something, it can happen, and that includes beating Spain in the final,” Eriksson concluded.
As England prepares for the final showdown, Eriksson's words serve as a poignant reminder of the journey the team has undertaken and the potential for a historic achievement under Southgate's leadership.
