• Euro 2012

England have 'chronic illusion of world supremacy'

Roy Hodgson was spared criticism by Jonas Thern © Getty Images

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Former Sweden star Jonas Thern has lashed out at England, saying the nation has a "chronic illusion of world football supremacy" and the national team plays a "predictable and stereotyped" game.

Thern, part of the Swedish team that finished third in the 1994 World Cup, said Sweden would win Friday's Group D encounter in Kiev. And in a withering assessment of England, during which only coach Roy Hodgson was spared scathing criticism, he said people who believed the team had played well against France were "deluded".

"Apparently the one shot towards the France goal over 90 minutes was all it took to ignite the chronic English illusion of world football supremacy," Thern said.

"I said before the Euro finals started that Sweden would beat England, and I stand by that statement despite the horrific display [in a 2-1 defeat] against the Ukraine."

Thern, who pointed out that England have not beaten Sweden in seven tournament clashes - and that he had played in two wins and two draws against them - said the performance against France had "none of the quality they like to boast it had."

"France had 15 shots on goal compared to England's one," he said. "Their style of play does not intimidate as it is predictable and stereotyped. England have historically struggled against Sweden as our strength is the physical game. Sweden does not fear this style of football in ways that other teams do."

But in a late complimentary moment that seemed almost like an afterthought, he said: "The only thing that could have been better for the Swedish team would have been if the manager position had been handed to somebody other than Roy [Hodgson] as he is a very competent manager with substantial international experience."

Earlier, Sweden vice-captain Anders Svensson said arrogance was behind England's poor record in matches against his country. Until a narrow win against the Swedes in a Wembley friendly towards the end of last year, England had not chalked up a victory against them since 1968 - a run including four defeats.

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