It's time for the talking to end and for Sven-Goran Eriksson to start proving he's worth £3m a year of the FA's cash.

At times it has seemed an interminable wait for the finals to start, enlivened only by the will-he-won't-he be fit circus that has surrounded Captain Goldenballs.

But after the highs of Munich and Manchester last year, and the lows of Steven Gerrard's injury and, well, Ulrika, Eriksson the England coach will live or die by the events in Japan over the next month.

Succeed, and Eriksson will continue to enjoy the status of Sweden's best export since Abba.

Fail, and he will be donning his flak jacket as the brickbats replace the bouquets which have hitherto greeted him.

Eriksson has tried to temper the wild enthusiasm and soaring expectations which accompanied England's Phoenix-like revival from World Cup down-and-outs under Kevin Keegan to group winners ahead of Germany.

This World Cup has come too soon for this team, he argues. Judge us not now, but in two or four years' time.

Eriksson is right. This trip to the Far East should be a learning experience, to be stored in the memory bank for Euro 2004 and the World Cup two years later.

England's young squad is too raw to be considered likely winners of this tournament. And a devilish draw left Eriksson adamant that his side will head home trophy-less.

But fans do not care one iota. The inexplicable faith in England to do well, to punch above their weight, means the Class of 2002 are the latest players to be charged with the task of emulating their 1966 counterparts.

It does not matter that England just scraped into the finals ahead of the worst German team in living memory.

Neither is it remembered that England have got to the World Cup semi-finals just once since '66.

So have Poland. And Belgium. And Croatia. More pertinently, this weekend at least, so have Sweden. But no-one would expect these nations to be lifting the World Cup in Yokohama in four weeks' time.

This belief that England, as the founders of the game, have a divine right to win things is a burden that has impeded managers for 30 years, from Don Revie through to Glenn Hoddle via Graham Taylor.

And now, with Sweden on the horizon, Eriksson is sending his walking wounded into battle knowing he is on a hiding to nothing.

David Beckham is unfit despite his pleas to the contrary. So is Kieron Dyer, though his continuing presence in Japan is a rare piece of good news for the England coach.

But still they are expected to sweep aside Sweden - a nation England have not beaten in their last nine meetings - avenge Argentina's 1986 and 1998 victories, and teach Nigeria a footballing lesson just for good measure.

No wonder it's been labelled 'the impossible job'.

Eriksson's side has the potential to be great. But it is just potential. The England squad is the youngest of the 32 in the Far East, and that inexperience is likely to be exposed before June is out.

Tradition is also against the Swede's adopted nation. Since 1982, when Bryan Robson's goal after 27 seconds inspired his country to a 3-1 victory over eventual semi-finalists France, England have begun tournaments abysmally. They have made a winning start to a major competition just once, and that was against minnows Tunisia at France 98.

Three draws and three defeats - to Portugal (twice) and the Republic of Ireland - is their record in other curtain-raisers.

Why should England, whose build-up to this World Cup has been dogged by an injury crisis, buck that trend tomorrow?

Sweden are a good side. No more, no less. Ljungberg and Larsson are close to being bracketed as world-class, and their defence is among the most miserly in international football. Yet anything less than an England win tomorrow will see Eriksson's critics crawling out of the woodwork.

In Michael Owen, England possess a rapier thrust that is envied by their rivals. David Beckham, too, would walk - or perhaps hobble - into any team on earth.

But the defence is shaky, despite Rio Ferdinand's increasingly calming influence, and if Eriksson seriously believes Emile Heskey is the answer to his left-sided conundrum then maybe he doesn't possess the Midas touch after all.

But hey, it's Jubilee weekend, the sun's shining and England are in the World Cup. So put on your England shirt and prepare for the good times to roll. Until 10.30am tomorrow, at least.