Sven: Defoe's World Cup chances damaged

Last updated at 12:05 17 March 2006

Sven-Goran Eriksson admits Jermain Defoe's long spell on the bench is damaging his World Cup chances.

Tottenham striker Defoe has lost his first-team place to Robbie Keane this season and the England boss has under two months to finalise his squad for Germany.

Eriksson said: "I cannot deny I am concerned about Jermain Defoe because he is spending a long time on the substitutes' bench.

"At the end of the day, if someone is injured or not playing many games and it stays that way, it doesn't give me a chance to see whether they are in good shape or not."

Spurs coach Martin Jol, who prefers to play Keane and Mido up front, insists he will not change his team simply to book Defoe onto the plane for Germany.

Jol said: "The World Cup is an unbelievable tournament but it is not my problem. It will be nice for me to watch when I am on my holidays in Spain but, as manager of Tottenham, I will always pick my strongest team.

"Jermain has never complained about being out of the team because he knows that would be disrespectful to the other players."

Defoe's best chance of making Eriksson's final 23 appears to rest with the Swede opting for five strikers rather than his usual four.

The England boss admits he might go with five if one of his first-choice strikers, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney, is carrying a slight injury concern when he hands his squad to FIFA on May 15.

FIFA rejected an appeal yesterday from some of the the world's leading football nations to delay the date for the squads to be handed in.

Eriksson has no worries about midfielder Joe Cole, however, and is tipping him as a potential player of the year.

The England boss said: "Joe Cole has a good chance on winning the player of the year. He was good last year but this season he has been even better.

"The last time he played for England he was fantastic, the best player on the pitch and I hope he will be in that kind of condition next summer."