Seaman catches Sven in forgiving mood

Euro 2004: Arsenal veteran's England place in safe keeping as he returns to top of cast list for double challenge

Ronaldinho could scarcely have imagined that he had induced so much angst in one opponent. It would be fair to suggest that David Seaman has been through the whole gamut of emotions since his unwitting contribution to England's devastating World Cup loss to Brazil at Shizuoka in Japan back in June.

He had been reduced to a tearful state after that game, in which the young Brazilian curled a free-kick beyond the goalkeeper from an audacious distance, and it was anticipated that the ponytailed one might even retire from international football. The England coach, Sven Goran Eriksson, and others, convinced the Arsenal man that he should still contest the England No 1 berth, even though it was West Ham's David James who played in last month's friendly against Portugal, and there have been demands for Eriksson to encourage young contenders such as Leeds' Paul Robinson.

For Seaman, the uncertainty of his England future has continued. In recent weeks, he has managed to contribute to his club's splendid Premiership and Champions' League start, but he has also suffered aberrations, notably against Chelsea and Bolton, which resulted in goals conceded.

Today he will be rewarded for his refusal to bow to advancing years and a certain weight of opinion when Eriksson names the 38-year-old once again in his 23-man England squad, with the likelihood that he will play in the two opening European Championship qualifying games, away to Slovakia next Saturday and home to Macedonia at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium the following Wednesday. If he does he will achieve his three-quarter-century of caps.

Yesterday, while on a watching brief at Upton Park, the home of Seaman's principal rival, David James, Eriksson defended Seaman against ageist attacks. "With goalkeepers it is different," the Swede said. "Dino Zoff was around 40 when he played in the 1982 World Cup, and how old was the Russian, Lev Yashin? David deserves to play [for England] because he is still performing very well. What happened in the World Cup doesn't come into it. He saved us so many times in the qualification games and had a very good tournament. These things [errors] happen to every player, a goalkeeper, defender, whatever you are."

Eriksson added: "I told him a day or two before naming the Portugal squad that I was going to see another goalkeeper and that he would not play from the beginning." Seaman opted not be included in the squad, although Eriksson added: "I told him that I had nothing against his age. I said: 'It's up to you to prove that you are one of our three goalkeepers'."

However, the Swede is mindful of other goalkeepers in contention. "I think that James is playing better and better and Robinson is doing very well," he said.

Gary Neville is also restored to the squad after breaking a bone in his foot prior to the World Cup. Whether he ousts Danny Mills in the starting line-up is another matter and presents the England coach with a dilemma, although he concedes that the two Manchester United men, Neville and captain David Beckham, operate well in tandem.

At least Eriksson cannot complain that he does not have sufficient personnel from which to select. The inquest has still to return its verdict on the sudden demise of England's football in Shizuoka, while in an apparently healthy state. When England suffered their first competitive defeat in the Eriksson era there were contrasting reactions.

Witnesses, including Eriksson, the man believed by many to be culpable, have offered their testimony, which principally concerns the effect of fatigue. Others remain convinced that even allowing for such a hindrance, his team should have at least threatened Brazil's10 men in the second half. However, it will also be recalled by those speaking in his defence that England did prosper by that 5-1 scoreline in Munich, in the qualifying stages, and defeated Argentina and Denmark in the tournament proper. Those first two results maintain Eriksson considerably in the black in terms of his account at the Bank of Coaching Reputation.

Also, Eriksson still has the unwavering support of the FA chief executive, Adam Crozier, who insists that, despite the Brazil disappointment, England are ahead of a schedule which is designed to culminate with success in Germany 2006 and, on the way, Portugal 2004.

"If you can choose 23 from the best then we are very strong, at least on paper. We have to prove it as well," Eriksson said of the squad he names today. "We know that Slovakia are a good team, especially at home, and Turkey are excellent at the moment, so it is important to have a good start. Maybe it should be easy, but it never is, especially playing away. The World Cup showed us that even the not-famous or big football countries create big problems to the big football nations."

Frankly, in Group Seven, England should only be troubled by Turkey, currently ranked seventh in the Fifa rankings, compared with England's ninth place. Slovakia (45), Macedonia (90) and Liechtenstein should not present undue problems. Slovakia have already lost 3-0 to Turkey, while Macedonia (England's opponents on Wednesday week) drew 1-1 with Liechtenstein, with a goal scored by Georgi Hristov. It is as well the game isn't to be played at Barnsley, where Macedonia's leading scorer played for three years and is best remembered for managing to enrage the local womenfolk by terming them all as "ugly".

Eriksson has lost no faith in his World Cup players. But now he has the benefit of Steven Gerrard in midfield, and a fit-again Michael Owen and Beckham. "I still say that if we have everyone fit and they are not tired, we can compete with any country in the world," he said.

At Anfield in the Champions' League on Tuesday, Emile Heskey partnered Owen, with Danny Murphy on the left. It was an excellent performance by Liverpool against Spartak Moscow, but the scale of it must be placed in proportion. Russian football is in a wretched state. Murphy was influential, and helped fashion two goals, but one suspects that he will not be first choice in that role.

More likely is a forward combination of Owen and Alan Smith – such was the Leeds striker's convincing display in his first England start against Portugal – with Heskey as a third striker, or deployed on the left. They would play in front of Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gerrard, with Nicky Butt providing reinforcement.

Such is the wealth of riches, the coach has other options. Trevor Sinclair and Kieron Dyer will also be in contention for that left-midfield role. But Eriksson dismissed the concept of the Newcastle man up front with Owen. "I know he sometimes plays like a second striker," he said of Dyer. "But it depends who's the first striker. I don't think that Owen and Dyer are a perfect couple to play up front. You need at least one stronger player there."

The relief was all too apparent that two of his key performers, Owen and Gerrard, are available (barring injuries against Chelsea today) and in prime condition at a crucial time. "I've never been worried about Michael Owen," Eriksson said. "You know that sooner or later he will start scoring goals. The last game he played, on Tuesday [against Spartak], he really played well. He didn't score, but he was behind a couple of goals. It's good to see him and Gerrard fit."

At the start of a new beginning for the Swede, he knows that this time there will be no excuses if England expectation is not fulfilled.

Probable squad: Seaman, James, Robinson; G Neville, Ashley Cole, Bridge, Mills, R Ferdinand, Southgate, S Campbell; Beckham, Butt, Scholes, Murphy, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Dyer, Bowyer, Sinclair, Owen, Heskey, Smith, Vassell.