Eriksson advises England on Maguire as he makes World Cup prediction

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has backed Gareth Southgate's side to finally reach the World Cup final, 56 years after they last reached that stage of the showpiece event.

The Three Lions have enjoyed their most successful since 1966 under Southgate, reaching the semi-finals in Russia. But that final step has eluded them since Sir Alf Ramsey's legendary side lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley.

Eriksson though, who led England to the quarter-finals in both of the World Cups he was in charge for, believes Southgate's men stand a real chance of finally returning to the final. He insisted there was no true "favourite" this year, opening the door for the Three Lions.

"I think they have a really strong squad and I think they can do it, reaching the final maybe. But you know a little bit of luck is important, maybe they can win it," the former England boss told Mirror Football.

"The reason I say that is because if you ask 10 or 100 experts 'who's going to win the World Cup', you will have different answers. I can't see anyone who is a great, great favourite to win it. There are many and I think England is one of them.

"France, they won the last time. Brazil I think they have a lot of important names, you have Germany always there, Spain are there of course. But England is there and I think that's important. It will be extremely interesting when it starts on Sunday."

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England will start their campaign by taking on Iran on Monday at the Khalifa International Stadium. There has already been much debate about the line-up boss Southgate will select for the clash.

And Eriksson has now added his thoughts, with no place for Harry Maguire in the back three he would pick. But the Swede is convinced that Southgate has strong options throughout his squad.

"That's impossible, I don't know but I guess the goalkeeper will be Pickford I suppose. I'm not sure if they'll play three central defenders or not. I guess Dier is one, Stones is one, Walker is one," Eriksson added.

"Then, wing-backs, I don't know. Maguire, I don't know if he's going to play or not but I think Dier, Stones and Walker if they play a three. It's strong. Then Kane will play, then you tell me. Who's going to play together with him?

"Is it Foden, is it Rashford, Sterling, Saka, I don't know. Then you have the midfield. You have Bellingham, maybe, maybe not. I like him, he's a very good player, Phillips is good, Henderson good, Mount.

"Probably, there will be three. I think they have some training sessions, very few. And I'm sure that Southgate and his scouts saw all the games from England players last weekend, who is in good shape."

Sven-Göran Eriksson surprised fans at a Toshiba watchparty, after research found 45% of fans plan to watch this winter's tournament on TV from home - with more than one in ten set to pick up a new TV ready for the football. See more @ToshibaTVEurope.

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