England may have had a whole nation celebrating by reaching the next World Cup, but even coach Sven Goran Eriksson believes they will need to play better at next year's finals. Weaknesses in all departments were laid bare before David Beckham's injury-time equaliser at Old Trafford and the performance left Eriksson in no doubt that England need to improve.
"If we want to do well in the World Cup we have to play better," he said. "I'm optimistic about our chances and I'm also happy we don't have to play a playoff game and we can concentrate on the finals. We can plan what we want to do before the World Cup, we are there now and it's the first step to something that can be very beautiful. Let's be happy and satisfied right now and tomorrow we can worry about the future."
After Saturday's performance, those worries may not be long in coming. But for Eriksson, the fact that England kept plugging away and refused to give up, also counted for a great deal. "Our squad shows a lot of character in every game," he said. "It means a lot when you don't play well and get a draw in the last minute."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
