England ready to end Sweden jinx: Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard believes England are ready to end their 43-year jinx against Sweden in Friday's crucial Euro 2012 Group D clash.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 13, 2012 11:30 AM IST
Steven Gerrard believes England are ready to end their 43-year jinx against Sweden in Friday's crucial Euro 2012 Group D clash.
England returned to their Krakow training base on Tuesday following an opening 1-1 draw against France which has left Roy Hodgson's side very much in the frame for a place in the quarter-finals.
Sweden by contrast now face a must-win game against England in Kiev on Friday after losing 2-1 to co-hosts Ukraine in their opening game.
However the weight of history suggests Friday's game will be anything other than a foregone conclusion for England, who have not beaten Sweden in a competitive fixture since 1968.
The Swedes have invariably proved to be stubborn opponents for England, who could only draw with the Scandinavians at the 2006 and 2002 World Cups while suffering a 2-1 loss at the 1992 Euros.
Gerrard however thinks England, who beat Sweden in a friendly at Wembley last November, are capable of securing a win on Friday that could put them within touching distance of the last eight.
"We are not getting carried away and we just need to build on each game and the France game has gone now," Gerrard said.
"We've got out of it partly what we wanted. We will analyse the game and what we did wrong and right and we go for the Swedes now.
"We need to get three points against them and then the point against France becomes very important.
"I don't want to disrespect the other two teams. Of course, on paper France are favourites in the group.
"The Swedes are difficult and I don't think we've beaten them for a long time in a competitive game.
"We will respect them but, with all respect, it's a game we should win."
Gerrard meanwhile contrasted the mood in England's camp after Monday's draw with France with the gloom that enveloped the squad following their 1-1 opening draw with the USA at the World Cup in 2010.
"The difference now to two years ago is we came off that game against the USA deflated with no belief and confidence," he said.
"I think after getting a point against France, in the dressing room there was a lot of belief and confidence and a lot of togetherness and that is what you need."