“The combination of an out-of-control tabloid press and a readership that thrills to the destruction of the England head coach is something no other country can offer. Scolari was driven out; Steve McClaren's personal life made the front pages. Neither of them even held the job. Then there was the fake-sheikhing of Sven-Göran Eriksson. That a newspaper should so brilliantly and deliberately destabilise the national head coach in a World Cup year is something no other sporting nation would consider.” WorldShouldYearsMadeCountryJobsNationsFrontsFootballOffersPagesDestructionEnglandPressesDrivenCoachesNewspapersCupsManagersSoccerCombinationRanFakeOther CountriesPersonal LifeChairmanWorld CupTabloidsReadershipHead Coaches Author:Simon Barnes
“Sven must have neglected to pay tribute to one of those strict Nordic gods. But instead of cursing Eriksson himself, Thor has done a still crueller thing and cursed the England strikers. I can only assume that Eriksson was never informed of this curse, otherwise he might have more than a 17-year-old up his sleeve.” YearsStillsI CanDoneMightPayFootballEnglandAssumingManagersSoccerCurseStrictNeglectedChairmanSleevesTributeCursedCursingStrikersNordic Author:Simon Barnes