Beardsley confident of England lift-off

ENGLAND may not have set the nation's hearts racing in their opening World Cup group fixtures but former Three Lions striker Peter Beardsley believes this to be par for the course.

With the notable exception of the 1982 campaign in Spain, where Ron Greenwood's men won all three opening group games convincingly, England have been notoriously slow starters when performing on the world stage.

And while the nation's armchairs have bore the brunt of some severe whacks this summer as a consequence, Beardsley, a member of Sir Bobby Robson's 1986 and 1990 World Cup squads, moved to ease all supporters' fears by insisting England are 'ready for take off'.

The former England striker recognises the uncanny similarities between Robson's squads and Sven-Goran Eriksson's current crop.

Robson's charges were under heavy pressure to perform in Mexico and Italy, and received unprecedented criticism about team selection and performances throughout the two memorable campaigns.

England almost limped their way through the group phase in 1986 and 1990, before springing in to life in the knock-out stage of the competitions to secure quarter-final and semi-final berths in the respective tournaments. And although Beardsley has several reservations about Eriksson's current squad he still expects England to at least equal the heroics of his playing days.

In 1986 Robson's side were handed a plum last 16 tie against South American outfit Paraguay and similarly, Beardsley believes Eriksson's current team have been lucky with the draw again.

The clash with Ecuador tomorrow should be a formality.

"I expect us to beat Ecuador," said the former Newcastle United favourite.

"In 1986 we weren't great at the start but we were outstanding against Poland in the third game and then we got Paraguay which, without being cruel, we could not have hand-picked a better team at that stage.

"If you'd have said to this group of players they were going to play Ecuador in the last 16 they'd have said, 'thank you very much'. In that respect it's a perfect draw.

"The competition is at the knock-out stage so they won't struggle now. I honestly think they'll come alive.

"There is nothing to play for as such. It sounds stupid because there's everything to play for but there is no cat and mouse now.

"They've got to go for it. I'd be surprised if Ecuador sat back and hit us on the break.

"If you look at Ecuador in the second game they were outstanding. Their first goal was one of the best goals you'll ever see in any World Cup.

"They've obviously got the talent. (Agustin) Delgado didn't prove a hit against Southampton but he's talented. When foreign players get back among their own they're a different animal. He looks a top player now.

"It won't be easy, but we all thought we were going to play Poland at this stage of the competition."

When England arrived in Mexico 20 years ago, Mark Hateley was Robson's preferred choice to partner Gary Lineker up front.

But, with England on the verge heading home early following a shock 1-0 defeat to Portugal and a 0-0 draw with Morocco, Robson shook his team up.

Out went John Barnes, Chris Waddle, Hateley, injured captain Bryan Robson and suspended deputy Ray Wilkins. In came Beardsley, Trevor Steven, Steve Hodge, Peter Reid and Glenn Hoddle.

The impact was instantaneous.

Without a target man to hit England were actually forced to play football instead of hitting the ball long.

Beardsley instantly struck up a telepathic understanding with Lineker and Poland were thumped 3-0 - courtesy of the Everton striker's hat-trick.

Beardsley believes if England are to win the World Cup in Germany this year, Eriksson has to take a leaf out of Robson's book and dump the big target man.

"Eriksson said it's got to be addressed and hopefully it will be," said the 59-times capped striker, who netted nine goals for his country, including a goal against Paraguay in 1986.

"They play too much long ball in my opinion. Peter Crouch is a threat in the air but you almost get carried away with it.

"If you had a target man he'd have to be an Alan Shearer-type target man who, when he played for England, was very mobile and could hold the ball up and link in with other people. But we haven't.

"I think we've almost got one-dimensional with Crouch and if it doesn't work it looks like we've got no other options."

Eriksson's decision to select only four strikers in his World Cup squad has already backfired - when Michael Owen limped out of Tuesday's final group game against Sweden with a cruciate ligament injury - leaving only three fit strikers.

And the England manager's reluctance to blood Arsenal's Theo Walcott has not only perplexed everyone but, left people wondering why Eriksson took him in the first place if he's not going to play.

"The biggest problem we've got now is that we haven't got an out-and-out centre-forward who just stays up the field like Gary Lineker or Alan (Shearer) now Owen is injured," said Beardsley. "Crouch has been the link for Michael and Rooney's a link man.Walcott's untried through no fault of his own. But I bet Eriksson is thinking 'I've had a nightmare here' in not taking Defoe or Bent - although he's obviously not going to come out and say it.

"I really like Jermaine Jenas and Michael Carrick but the fact they haven't been involved yet makes you think, 'why did he not leave one at home?'

"I would have thought most of the other countries have gone with five strikers. Eriksson's gone with three and Walcott hasn't even got on for five minutes - I find that unbelievable.

"To be fair, if Michael had have come through and played well and with Rooney back, Eriksson might have been alright.

"If we win the World Cup he'll be proved right, if he doesn't, I would have thought it'd be the first question everybody asked."

Beardsley believes his country's chances have subsided slightly due to Owen's early exit but despite the lack of striking options he says Eriksson should still resist the temptation to play Crouch.

Arsenal have proved in recent seasons that you can be successful without having a natural centre-forward. Thierry Henry has operated in the wide channels for the best part of eight seasons.

And when Dutchman Robin van Persie joined Arsene Wenger's side last term the Gunners had two frontmen who preferred to drop deep and wide rather than plough directly through the middle, which makes it difficult for central defenders to mark.

The Newcastle Academy coach reckons England should play with Rooney as a lone striker, a packed midfield, Carrick providing protection to the back four, and David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole having licence to exploit the spaces.

He added: "I'd also be tempted to put in Sol (Campbell) at Ferdinand's expense and play 3-5-2. You could push Jamie Carragher and Ashley Cole or, Rio (Ferdinand) could come out with the ball.

"They've got the players to adapt to that. He's always went 4-4-2 since he's been in England, but I wouldn't.

"We need a bit of solidity in front of the back four and Hargreaves did well against Sweden. It's probably the best I've seen him play in an England shirt so he probably deserves another go.

"We should play Lampard and Gerrard either side of him and get our goals that way by taking the pressure off them and letting them get forward."

Like most, Beardsley is another who subscribes to the theory that England's World Cup chances hinge on Rooney's genius and fitness.

The 45-year-old empathised with the Manchester United striker's frustrations after he was substituted against Sweden on Tuesday.

But Beardsley insists he expects him to deliver in the knock-out stage - after pointing out only Rooney and one other England player are good enough to be included in current World Cup holders Brazil's line up.

"You could see Rooney's frustration and I think Eriksson was right when he said you could see his frustration with himself," observed Beardsley.

"I don't think that was any slight of a manager. He's the one player for me, other than Gerrard, who would get in the Brazil side.

"I think Brazil are the best team in the world, although they've not shown it at the moment.''

He added: "Rooney might be a little rusty in terms of his touch but in terms of his physical fitness, running around as he was the other night, he's fine.

"The hardest thing will be holding Rooney back, but that's a great thing."

Some ex-players and pundits have suggested the current crop of England players are the best since Sir Alf Ramsey's men lifted the trophy back in 1966 - but Beardsley isn't a subscriber to this point of view.

He said: "People say it's the best England team since 1966 - I'd have to disagree, but obviously I'm biased.

"A lot of people would say I'm jealous and that's what you've got to be careful of.

"To play in a World Cup semi-final (against West Germany) was just scary, but we deserved to win. We came back as heroes because over the 120 minutes we were the better team.

"For me personally that was the best ever game I played in an England shirt."

*Beardsley was speaking at the MetroCentre's World Cup talk-in. Next up is 1966 winner Jack Charlton on Wednesday from 6-8pm.