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| Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson is relishing the challenge and pitting his wits against the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. “We have nothing to lose,” he said. “England are running away with the group and we are just trying to establish ourselves. Even the play-offs are very difficult for us. |
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| Sven-Goran Eriksson has been guaranteed his four-week break ahead of the World Cup finals as the Football Association moved next season's FA Cup sixth round to a midweek date. The FA's main board ended the recent controversy over next season's fixture schedule, while giving Eriksson the extra week's break that he has strongly campaigned for. |
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| "It's even more important for the England team than other teams in Germany or Spain or whatever, as we are the only country in Europe not to have a winter break," he declared earlier this week. "If we have one week's less preparation at the end of the season as well, that says everything. "It might seem stupid but one week is like gold. It's absolutely vital for the players as I will do absolutely nothing with them that week. That will help them physically and mentally. "It would not be impossible to win the World Cup without it. We had three weeks before Portugal and Japan, but the fitness levels were never good enough for us. "In fact, one of the reasons we went out, especially in Japan, was the fitness levels." |
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| Gerrard declared: "With the amount of games we play during a season, it's important that, come these tournaments, you are fresh and ready. "Sven will know how to handle that right and I am sure that, by the time we start the training, we will be really fresh because of the week he will have given us beforehand." Gerrard told the Football Association's website, www.theFA.com: "It's definitely important to prepare right because the preparation goes a long way. "That is why we were hoping that we would have more time together before the tournament kicks off so we can get the team spirit and the camaraderie going and work on formations and tactics. "Then, come the first game, we would be right. It is always better to have more time than less time." |