England can win Euro 2012 says Sweden manager Erik Hamren

Team-mates congratulate Frank Lampard for heading England's goal but the win throws up questions for the manager (AP)

Sweden boss Erik Hamren has insisted England can win next summer's European Championship ahead of his side's Wembley friendly tonight.

England's shock victory over Spain on Saturday proved a double-edged sword, with what was a welcome result against the world and European champions tempered somewhat by the obvious gulf in class between the two countries.

Fabio Capello's ultra defensive tactics appeared to suggest he did not believe his side were capable of going toe to toe with the very best.

But while Hamren had no doubt yesterday who the favourites for Euro 2012 are, he claimed England were not that far behind.

"It's the three big countries - Spain, Holland and Germany - who are the favourites of course," he said.

"England are one of the teams, one of the countries, who can take the challenge."

That is even without Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard or Jack Wilshere, according to Hamren, who will not have to deal with that trio tonight.

"If you see the squad, you can put some really, really good players in instead of them," he said.

"You need a good squad. You need to win the games when you have players injured and suspended."

Sweden and Sunderland winger Sebastian Larsson suggested part of the reason for England's failure at major tournaments was the unrealistic expectations of the media.

"If you look at the players that they've got, they should be up there amongst the favourites for each tournament they've been in," he said.

"But, at the same time, the pressure might become a little bit too much.

"Maybe they shouldn't be the top favourites for each an every tournament, the way they're maybe pictured to be in England sometimes."

England will doubtless be tagged favourites for tonight's match, as they would have been virtually every time they have played Sweden.

However, they have repeatedly come unstuck against the Scandinavians, who boast a 12-match, 43-year unbeaten record against them.

Larsson said: "I've certainly let my English colleagues up at Sunderland know before this game.

"It's a funny statistic and hopefully we can keep it going for a few more years and reach at least 50."

Hamren added: "We have been good - and we have been lucky."

But the Sweden boss played down the significance of the record, insisting it only made a difference to those players in his squad who had faced England before.

"If you've done it once - like England beating Spain - then you know that you can do it again," he said.

"Those players who have beaten England before, they know it."

PA