Soccer: Eriksson won't resign despite England debacle

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says he will not resign despite the stunning 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier yesterday.

Travelling fans jeered Eriksson as Northern Ireland recorded their first win over England since 1972, and the first in Belfast in 78 years.

A well-taken goal by David Healy in the 73rd minute secured an astonishing victory against the odds.

Eriksson's critics, including a large section of the British media, are sure to increase their campaign for the Swede to go.

"I'm not going to resign," Eriksson said. "I am going to try to make it right in October. If we win our last two games, we've qualified.

"We still have it in our hands and it's up to us in October to make the six points."

For the first time, England fans in the stands chanted for Eriksson to quit.

"Understandable," he said. "If you lose against Northern Ireland ... I can't argue with that.

"I'm very sorry and disappointed, as the players are - sorry for the team, sorry for the three points we lost and sorry for the fans, who travelled here paying a lot of money."

Even captain David Beckham, one of Eriksson's staunchest supporters, accepted the fans' criticism.

"It is frustrating to hear the fans criticise the manager so close to the World Cup. As players it is hard for us to take," Beckham said.

"They are entitled to their views because it costs a lot of money to follow the team everywhere."

He described the defeat as the worst of his England career.

"It has been an embarrassment."

After the game, British bookmakers slashed the odds on Eriksson losing his job before the World Cup from 40-1 to 12-1.

But firing Eriksson isn't an easy option.

His contract, which runs until 2008, is reportedly worth more than £4 million ($10.6 million) a year and terminating it could cost the Football Association a heavy sum.

Eriksson has come under increasing pressure after the 4-1 loss to Denmark last month and an unconvincing 1-0 qualifying win over Wales last weekend.

England now trail group leaders Poland by five points and, although they have a game in hand, they must win their two remaining matches against Austria and Poland next month if they are to guarantee automatic qualification as group six winners.

They are guaranteed at least a playoff spot.

Eriksson, whose streak of 21 unbeaten qualifying games ended in Belfast, said it was his worst result since becoming England coach in 2001.

"Yes, I think so because it's a qualification game and we shouldn't lose, we should not even draw games, we should win games like this."

Eriksson, who has been sharply criticised for his tactical formations, had trouble explaining what went wrong yesterday.

"I don't think that organisation or formation ... was the problem," he said.

"Almost all the players on the pitch played in positions they do with their clubs. It can't be that reason.

"For 35 minutes, we played exactly how we wanted to play and controlled the game. We created some half-chances.

"But after that, we lost our patience and spirit. We didn't find it at halftime or in the second half, and that's why we lost the game."

Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez said his team had achieved immortality.

"It shows the power of belief ... ultimately the better team won."

It was the third major upset of Sanchez's career after scoring in Wimbledon's famous 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool in 1988 and guiding third division Wycombe Wanderers into the FA Cup semifinals in 2001 as a manager.

"You live for these moments. That's only three and I've been playing and involved in football for the best part of 27 years.

"You've got to savour them as they come."

Despite the revenge victory after losing 4-0 to England at Old Trafford in March, Sanchez still predicted a bright future for Eriksson's men in qualifying for the finals in Germany next year.

"England are a magnificent team," he said. "I'm sure Sven will get terrible stick in the English papers about falling to a team like us, but England will qualify for the World Cup, I have no doubts whatsoever about that.

"When they get to the finals they will be one of the teams capable of bringing the trophy home. This match is a hiccup for them."

Elsewhere, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands all edged closer to the finals, but Croatia's smooth progress was brought to a halt when they were held to a shock 1-1 draw in Malta.

Serbia and Montenegro conceded their first goal in eight qualifiers, but hit back for a 1-1 draw in Spain that leaves them firmly on course to reach the finals for the first time.

- REUTERS