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Sven-Göran Eriksson’s First England XI

Updated: Jun 7

We all love football nostalgia. It’s exactly why The Football Game Co. exists. So what better way to kick off our brand new ‘First XI’ series on England managers than with Sven? Here’s a look back at his first ever game in charge, and the players he picked and brought off the bench.





David James (GK)

James earned 53 caps for England across a 13-year international career. He spent much of his time as a backup goalkeeper before becoming first choice under Fabio Capello, eventually starting at the 2010 World Cup at the age of 39.


Phil Neville (RB)

Neville won 59 caps for England between 1996 and 2007, featuring in multiple European Championship squads but missing out on World Cup selection. Often deployed as a utility player, he was a reliable squad member across different managerial eras.


Rio Ferdinand (CB)

One of England’s most capped defenders, Ferdinand made 81 appearances from 1997 to 2011. He played at three World Cups and was a regular starter in England’s so-called "Golden Generation" before injuries and managerial changes ended his international career.


Sol Campbell (CB)

Campbell earned 73 caps and played in six consecutive major tournaments from 1996 to 2006. He was a key figure in England’s defence for a decade and was famously denied a controversial disallowed goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup and against Portugal in Euro 2004.


Chris Powell (LB)

Powell made his England debut in this match at the age of 31 and went on to win five caps in total. His brief international career came during Eriksson’s early experiments with the squad before Ashley Cole cemented the left-back position.


David Beckham (RM)

Beckham won 115 England caps and captained the national team from 2000 to 2006. He played at three World Cups and was central to some of England’s most memorable moments, including his iconic last-minute free-kick against Greece to secure qualification for the 2002 World Cup.


Nicky Butt (CM)

Butt earned 39 England caps between 1997 and 2004. Though never a guaranteed starter, he became a crucial part of the team at the 2002 World Cup, where his performances were widely praised in an otherwise injury-hit midfield.


Paul Scholes (CM)

Scholes won 66 caps for England from 1997 to 2004, playing at two World Cups and two European Championships. Despite his success at club level, he retired from international football relatively early, citing frustrations with being played out of position on the left.


Nick Barmby (LM)

Barmby earned 23 caps for England between 1995 and 2001, featuring in Euro 96 and Euro 2000. His England career peaked during the early Eriksson years, but he was phased out of the squad soon after.


Andy Cole (ST)

Despite scoring prolifically at club level, Cole won just 15 caps for England between 1995 and 2001, scoring once. He often struggled to establish himself in the squad, with injuries and intense competition limiting his international opportunities.


Michael Owen (ST)

Owen played 89 times for England, scoring 40 goals. He became a national hero at just 18 years old with his stunning solo goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup and remained England’s first-choice striker for nearly a decade, featuring in three World Cups.







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Nigel Martyn (GK)

Martyn earned 23 England caps between 1992 and 2002, spending most of his international career as understudy to David Seaman. He was part of the squads for Euro 96, the 1998 World Cup, and the 2002 World Cup but never played in a major tournament match.


Michael Ball (LB)

Ball made his only England appearance in this match. Despite a promising club career, injuries hampered his progress, and he was not called up again for the national team.


Gavin McCann (CM)

McCann won just a single England cap, which came in this match. Although he had a solid club career, he was not recalled to the England squad after Eriksson’s early experiments.


Ugo Ehiogu (CB)

Ehiogu earned four England caps between 1996 and 2002, scoring once against Spain in 2001. Although highly respected at club level, he struggled to break into England’s first-choice defence due to the strong competition of his era.


Emile Heskey (ST)

Heskey won 62 England caps between 1999 and 2010, featuring in two World Cups and two European Championships. A trusted option for multiple managers, he often partnered Michael Owen, including during the 2002 World Cup campaign.


Frank Lampard (CM)

Lampard went on to earn 106 caps for England between 1999 and 2014, becoming one of the country’s most influential midfielders. He played at three World Cups and two European Championships, famously having a disallowed goal against Germany in 2010 that helped lead to goal-line technology.


Gary Neville (RB)

Neville won 85 caps for England from 1995 to 2007, playing in five major tournaments. A mainstay at right-back for over a decade, he was part of the so-called "Golden Generation" and later became a respected pundit and coach.



What do you think of his team? Are you surprised? Should more players have had more caps under him?



If you’re into football trivia and love testing your knowledge with your mates, check out The Football Game – it’s the perfect way to bring a bit of that England nostalgia to your next quiz night.

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