Terminally-ill Sven-Goran Eriksson sends a message to Gareth Southgate ahead of England's Euro 2024 final against Spain

  • Sven-Goran Eriksson revealed in January he has inoperable pancreatic cancer
  • The 76-year-old says Southgate will write himself in history books with victory
  • LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Why you should believe England can beat Spain in the final 

By Abdi Rashid

Published: | Updated:

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has delivered a heartfelt message to Gareth Southgate ahead of Sunday's Euro 2024 final. 

The Three Lions secured their place in a second consecutive European Championship final after coming from behind to beat the Netherlands on Wednesday. 

England had fallen behind early in the match as Xavi Simons opened the scoring and Harry Kane equalised from the penalty spot before Ollie Watkins' late strike. 


Eriksson stunned the world of football back in January when he announced that he had 'about a year' to live and was battling pancreatic cancer. 

The 76-year-old, who managed England between 2001 and 2006, will be watching the final against Spain from his home and has sent Southgate his well wishes. 

Sven-Goran Eriksson revealed in January he has inoperable pancreatic cancer
The 76-year-old says Southgate will write himself in history books with victory against Spain

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson (left) has delivered a message to Gareth Southgate

England reached the Euro 2024 final after coming from behind to beat the Netherlands

England reached the Euro 2024 final after coming from behind to beat the Netherlands  

'Sunday's final will be an open game, and I think England have a big, big chance,' Eriksson penned at the end of his latest column for The Telegraph.

'And while I have not been feeling well over the past week or so, I will be watching the game from home. I would love to see England win.

'So would every one of the managers who has tried and failed to win a major trophy since 1966. Come on, Gareth. Do what we never could.'

Since taking the helm in 2016, Southgate has guided England to two Euros finals and a World Cup semi-final in 2018.  

Eriksson also praised Southgate for handling the pressure that comes with being England manager better than than any of Sir Alf Ramsey's successors across the past six decades, including himself and Sir Bobby Robson. 

Eriksson led England to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cup as well the last eight of Euro 2004. 

The Swede started his column with: 'The job of England manager brings with it a beautiful pressure.

'You hear so much about 1966 and what Sir Alf Ramsey's team did, and you know how much expectation there is on you to end all those years of hurt.

'I felt it. Sir Bobby Robson felt it. Every one of the 13 managers since Sir Alf will have felt it. None of us succeeded, but no one has come closer than Gareth Southgate.'

Eriksson, who managed England between 2001 and 2006, will watch the final from his home

Eriksson, who managed England between 2001 and 2006, will watch the final from his home

He believes Southgate will write himself in history books with victory against Spain in the final

He believes Southgate will write himself in history books with victory against Spain in the final

Eriksson added: 'Gareth is certainly the best English coach since Sir Alf. Win in Berlin on Sunday, and I believe he should be considered better.'

Eriksson admitted that not appointing a psychologist is one of his biggest regrets as England manager and praised Southgate for turning around the Three Lions' fortunes in penalty shoot-outs. 

He wrote: 'Gareth has learnt from the mistakes we made – handling the mental block of penalties, in particular – and has gone further than any of us ever did.

'Now he, his players and the entire nation must know England can win. If you believe in something it can happen, and that includes beating Spain in the final.'

Euro 2024Gareth SouthgateSpain