Victoria Beckham ‘didn’t make it easy’ for England at World Cup, says Sven
Victoria Beckham "didn't make it easy" for England at the World Cup according to former Three Lions manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The Swedish manager believes that the former Spice Girl's popularity and press attention during major tournaments intensified the pressure on his players. The popstar and fashion designer was a member of the group of WAGs who made headlines during the 2006 World Cup with their wild stay in the German spa town of Baden-Baden.
Eriksson has now reflected on the impact that the press attention the wives and girlfriends received had on the team's performances during his five years as England manager.
READ MORE: Sven-Goran Eriksson admits it would be 'difficult' to pick Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw
Speaking to BoyleSports, he explained: "One of the wives was Victoria Beckham and of course that didn't make it easy, it made it fantastic for the press.
"But all the other countries, Sweden for example, I knew exactly what they did with their wives and so on. I don't think any Swedish paper ever talked about it because it's natural and I think most of the teams were doing that. In England it became huge in the press and a scandal, but I couldn’t see what the scandal was.
"We saw the wives maybe once a week at dinner and I decided when that should be, and the rest of the days of course the wives were invited here and there and the FA helped them not to be sat in a hotel, bored, and I think that was great.
How far will England go at this year's World Cup? Let us know in the comments section below.
"But whatever they did it was a scandal, if they went to a bar, if they went to a restaurant, if they went out shopping. They were totally normal things.
"I found the reaction a little bit unhelpful, but I don't think all of those players know what the English press is. The football press of course, but the other side of the press, I don't think they were that prepared for that."
Eriksson took charge of England at two World Cup's during his time as Three Lions gaffer, with David Beckham captaining the side at both the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.
Despite many believing England had a Golden Generation at that time, Eriksson's side were unable to get past the quarter-finals during his tenure, losing 2-1 to Brazil in the last eight in 2002 before Portugal beat them on penalties at the same stage four years later.
READ NEXT:
Graeme Souness has 'no problem' with Jack Grealish and would like night out with him
Manuel Neuer and others out of Germany squad with Covid ahead of England clash
Anfield and Emirates miss out as stadiums for UK and Ireland's Euro 2028 bid are named
Source: Read Full Article