England are given go-ahead to play

Although it was not until dusk was falling around Soho Square that the security fears concerning England's fixture in Liechtenstein on Saturday were allayed, Sven Goran Eriksson did his best yesterday to divide the personal and professional.

The England coach made it clear that he was following the war in Iraq, and had reservations about it, but insisted that his mind was on the acquisition of three qualifying points in the Rheinpark stadium. He believed that the combined abilities of the Liechtenstein authorities and the Football Association's own security would ensure his players, too, could concentrate on the match.

Until late afternoon, when the Football Association, police and government of Liechtenstein each provided the required assurances to Uefa, the game's governing body in Europe, it seemed the match would be postponed. The 11am deadline passed without the issue being resolved and Eriksson had to discuss the selection of his squad without knowing when it would be tested.

This will now be on Saturday when Wayne Rooney, he intimated, would not start. Sol Campbell may be left in London, receiving treatment, before rejoining the team prior to the Turkey home game on 2 April. And there really were no easy games in international football, not even Liechtenstein.

While shocks do happen, and this would be one, it is evident that the most troublesome aspect of this fixture is its staging. Even in normal circumstances the prospect of 950 official England fans, and more than 1,000 unofficial ones, descending on a ground with a sub-4,000 capacity would be worrying. In current circumstances it was hardly surprising that David Davies, the FA's joint acting chief executive, said: "We urge people to recognise their responsibility to themselves and fellow supporters. If they have a ticket, come and enjoy it. If not, stay away."

The Liechtenstein authorities had been concerned that anti-war demonstrations in Switzerland and Austria would deny them the police reinforcements those countries had promised. They were also aware that the England team could, bizarrely, become a target for both peace campaigners and terrorists. Eventually 100 more officers were secured. The FA, added Davies, have reviewed their own security procedures and would continue to do so.

Eriksson and his team should thus be able to concentrate on a match they must win. To that end he said he was pleased that key players, such as Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, were fit and in better form that in the autumn when England drew at home to Macedonia. He was confident that David James, despite never playing a competitive match, was ready to step in for the injured David Seaman, and looking forward to seeing John Terry at close hand.

As usual, the conversation soon turned to Rooney. David Moyes, the Everton manager, had been distinctly unenthusiastic about the prospect of his tiro being called up when addressing the media on Sunday evening but, said Eriksson, had expressed no such reservations when they spoke soon after.

Eriksson added: "It is good for Rooney. Being involved in international football can't harm him. If you can create a lot of problems to Arsenal at Highbury then you are a very good footballer. I hope the expectation will not burden him. You should not expect him to start and score three goals."

Emile Heskey is a more likely starting partner for Owen. "His physical presence is important and he never let us down," said Eriksson. Alan Smith, Joe Cole and James Beattie, who Eriksson admitted could be justified in feeling confused, having started England's last international, were omitted from the squad on form.

As for the opposition, Eriksson was respectful. They may be part-timers, but Eriksson recalled Tord Holmgren, who combined playing for Gothenburg with being a plumber. "In 1982, the day before the Uefa Cup final against Hamburg, he asked me if he could work until 1pm. We decided he could. In the afternoon he played against Hamburg, scored and we won."

That was Eriksson's first major triumph. He has come a long way since and the complications of his professional life have grown commensurately. Now he has to bear in mind the safety of his players, notably an icon like David Beckham. "I trust our security. The players will not be distracted," he said. He was also asked for his political opinions. These would not normally be relevant, but the FA is busy pondering the wisdom of sending its customary message of support, in the name of the England team, to troops in action overseas.

Swedes have long preferred neutrality in times of conflict and Eriksson is no exception. He accepted there had been just wars but said: "I've never been for war, any war. Unfortunately we have a problem and they have decided to resolve in this way. I think about that as a private person, but I am here to play football for England and I hope we can play in Liechtenstein. If we should halt every activity in the world because of the war, we can, but hopefully life goes on."

* The Football Association of Wales claims that moving the Euro 2004 qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro from Belgrade to Cardiff is a "non-starter". Uefa is considering a request from the Serbia and Montenegro FA to move the 2 April qualifier from its capital, Belgrade, as the country is in a state of emergency following the assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister this month.