England stronger than at World Cup: Eriksson

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has warned England's Euro 2004 rivals that his current squad is stronger than the one that reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup two years ago.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned England's Euro 2004 rivals that his current squad is stronger than the one that reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup two years ago.

Eriksson can call on Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville, who both missed the tournament in Japan and South Korea through injury.

Captain David Beckham and star striker Michael Owen are both fully fit, unlike two years ago, and Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard have both emerged as important members of the squad.

All of which left Eriksson in highly upbeat mood on the eve of England's penultimate warm-up match, against Japan here on Tuesday.

"The fitness level is much better. We don't have any injuries as we had two years ago, when Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville did not even come to the tournament.

"David Beckham was not fully fit [nor was Michael Owen], Danny Murphy also, so it looks much, much better and that's good."

Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell has shaken off a hamstring problem leaving England with no injury concerns and Eriksson said he had been happy with how his squad had worked during a training camp in Sardinia last week.

"The week in Sardinia was good in general. It was good for the group mentality, combining work with a holiday. I think most of the players needed it after a long, long season," Eriksson said.

England have the toughest possible start in Portugal with an opening match against defending champions France, a match in which Eriksson admitted a draw would be an acceptable result.

"France may be the strongest squad in this tournament but it is better to win [against France] than to draw. I could maybe accept that [a draw] - it is not that bad, not at all."

The Swede also believes Everton striker Rooney has the opportunity to make his mark on the tournament.

"I hope Wayne will be the big surprise in the tournament but he is 18 years old so we should not put too much pressure on him."

England goalkeeper David James shares Eriksson's view that the squad has developed over the last two years.

"We have a good number of players in both squads (for the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004) and with the age and experience we have it will have grown.

"I am the granddad of the team at 33. The age of the team has come down, there is a lot of experience and a lot of youngsters which is good."