Eriksson's gamble has made us laughing stock

Jun 13 2006 By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

MIXING with the Italian media here in Hanover last night wasn't the most pleasant experience. The reason is simple - they're all laughing at us.

Nobody, whether they are Italian Spanish, German, or for that matter, English, can believe we've only got four strikers in the World Cup squad.

The fact is, even if you've got the four best strikers in the world you still take a fifth one just to be safe.

As it is, we've got two who are injured, one who is six foot seven with no pace and a 17-year-old who hasn't even played at the highest level for his club.

It's as if Sven-Goran Eriksson's just saying "stuff you lot!" It just seems like he's gambling all the time.

It's absurd only taking four forwards and what baffles me is, it's not as if you only have two weeks to prepare.

How long is it since we qualified for the World Cup? Eight months? When you consider that in that time Arsene Wenger has persuaded Sven that Theo Walcott is good enough, so good in fact that he can take the place of two strikers, it shows how indecisive he is.

Don't let anyone kid you that Joe Cole is a striker either, as he's not. He can play off a striker, but this business of him pushing on to play as a second forward just doesn't wash.

The problem in our front line is so bad that we're now looking at Wayne Rooney playing against Trinidad and Tobago.

I'm not actually against this and if he is fit and ready, throw him on with 20 minutes to go if we're winning 2-0 or more.

But the fact that we're all so desperate to see him shows the lack of options we've got and what little competition for places there is.