Sven-Goran Eriksson's England verdict: Winter break, foreign influx and more

Sven-Goran Eriksson spoke with Sky Sports about all things England, from the need to introduce a winter break to their chances in Russia.

Eriksson, England manager between 2001 and 2006, spoke candidly about the current state of the national team in the Sky Sports studio after Leicester's draw with Stoke on Saturday.

The Swede was strong on the need to protect England players before major tournaments, and says the influx of foreign players into the top flight does not have to hinder young English players' progress...

On the need for a winter break…

England have good football players. You need a good striker, and for sure England has that in Harry Kane. You need a good goalkeeper, and good football players all round.

But what you especially need is the players not to be too tired. That's a big, big, big issue for England, and it has been like that for 20 years, before I came and after I left.

It's down to not having a winter break, they're playing too much football. If you take injuries in different leagues in Europe, the top leagues, the Premier League have more injuries from the middle of March to the end of the season than any other league. And that's because we are playing too much football.

When you get to two or three weeks before the World Cup, they are tired, and that's a big problem. If you play too much football, your injury risk is bigger. If England has luck in the injury department, they can have a great World Cup.

You have the quality in this country, good players all over the pitch, and a world-class striker, absolutely world class. And if he's fit, he can make the difference in Russia.

On club managers protecting players…

Some managers would say: 'Sven, take them, they are yours, they are tired but do what you want.'

Others were phoning me before 7am in the morning and saying: 'You don't take my players!'

It was rather easy to work together with the club managers, and I think that is a must for England. You have to work together to make the Premier League great, but also to make England have a chance to have a really good World Cup.

On foreign players in the Premier League…

This was discussed even during my time. I remember Arsenal at that time had one English player, all the rest were foreign. Maybe it would better if there were less, but at the same time, the young English players learn a lot from these foreign players, it has always been like that.

And the best young English players will also come through and make it.

On pre-tournament camps…

The Italian football players had no problems staying together for weeks, months. English players less so. They get bored quicker, you have to organise other things around football for them, out shopping for example! And a lot of other things.

I don't know why. The Italians are happy sitting with each other, with a coffee, and talking. They can talk for hours about whatever. It's different, but that's not the biggest problem.

On England's group-stage chances (against Belgium, Panama and Tunisia)…

Achievable? It must be. Belgium are a very good team. The other two, if you want to have a good World Cup, you have to beat them.