London: England's coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has said he expects to be sacked if his team does not reach the semi-finals of this year's Soccer World Cup.
"If we win the World Cup, I will say goodbye and thank you. I think people will understand me doing that," he was quoted as telling a BBC conference.
"I have always said that I wanted to be judged on football results. If we fail in the World Cup, I have to pay the price, that's fair. If we don't get to the semi-finals, it's fair that I don't stay in the job."
Eriksson is still coming to terms with a News of the World investigation last Sunday in which an undercover reporter, disguised as an Arab sheikh, helped extract a series of indiscreet comments about current England players from the 57-year-old former Lazio boss.
The England coach also speculated about the possibility of taking over at Premiership side Aston Villa after the World Cup final in Germany in July even though his contract with the national side does not end until 2008.
"It was a kick under the belt," Eriksson had said of the tabloid newspaper's 'sting'.
"I was disappointed it wasn't reported that I said Rio Ferdinand was the best defender in the world and that Wayne Rooney was the best footballer in the world."
Soccer legend Mario Zagallo thinks Brazil will have to play better to have a chance of winning another World Cup.
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