Eriksson urges England to show killer instinct

FRANKFURT, June 9 (Reuters) England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is urging his men to show their killer instinct when their World Cup opens against Paraguay tomorrow.

England go into the Group B game in Frankfurt after bowing out of their last two tournaments under Eriksson at the quarter-final stages of the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

''It's important you show a killer instinct in football,'' he told a news conference today. ''When you have the chance to score, for example, you have to take it.

''I don't think that's been a problem for us over the last five years...we went out of big tournaments against Brazil and Portugal by losing 2-1 and in a penalty shootout.

''We were almost there. Now I think we are there.

''We have a better squad than we had four years ago or two years ago. I'm very positive about tomorrow.'' Eriksson's men could only manage a draw in their opening game against Sweden in 2002 and lost to France in Portugal, continuing a run of poor starts.

Against Paraguay, Eriksson is convinced they will start a winning run that could take them all the way in Germany.

''I know statistically that first games in big tournaments have not always been in England's favour -- but it will be tomorrow,'' he said.

''I strongly believe we are one of four or five teams who can win the World Cup. I believe we can do much better than four and two years ago.

''We've been preparing for this for a long time - in Portugal, London, Manchester and now in Germany, so we can't wait. We want it to begin.'' Eriksson, who said Paraguay had a chance of qualifying from a group which also features his native Sweden and Trinidad&Tobago, was clearly savouring his last England mission before leaving the job after the finals.

''The World Cup is the biggest stage you can be on as a player or a coach and I've waited a long time for this moment,'' Eriksson said.

''Let's hope it will be a big, big party for one month.''

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REUTERS