Eriksson, it is worth remembering, picked Roberto Baggio and Manuel Rui Costa when both were in their teens, at Fiorentina and Benfica respectively. He mentioned those successes in his own defence three years ago when he was quizzed about his confidence in his decision that Wayne Rooney, then aged 17, was not only ready for international football but ready to make his first start in a vital Euro 2004 qualifying match against Turkey.
ロベルト・バッジオとルイ・コスタを１０代で使ったし、ルーニーを１７歳で使ったのも今になっては自信になってる。彼は国際試合にはまだ経験不足だといわれていたが２００４ユーロ予選の重要なトルコ戦にデビューさした。
トップチーム経験の無い１７歳の選手ともう１人の国際試合未経験の１０代選手を選考したエリクソン。まさに、インタビューでも言ってるようにギャンブル。ジーコが突然森本と平山選ぶようなものか。
