Sven can see his way back to Lazio

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson today revealed he will consider returning to Lazio if he fails to win the World Cup.

The Swede was in charge of the Rome club for four years and earlier this week Standard Sport reported he was being targeted by president Sergio Cragnotti.

Lazio are still reeling from a 5-1 defeat by city rivals Roma and, in an interview with an Italian newspaper, Eriksson said: "I cannot leave for the moment as there is the World Cup and England has asked me to win it but I know that if things go badly I will be looking for something else.

" Lazio has always remained in my heart, as have the Cragnotti family, and it is not difficult to imagine myself on the blue and whites (Lazio's colours) bench again but to predict the future would be wrong.

"I don't want to exclude any possibility but for the time being I can see no possibility of abandoning the England bench. I am honoured to have been given this job, even if only temporarily."

Eriksson, who is under contract with England until 2006, won the Italian championship, the Cup Winners' Cup, the European Super Cup and two Italian Cups during his time with Lazio.

He added: "I don't want to delude Lazio fans. For the time being I am focused on being manager of England. But our World Cup group is very difficult and if we lose all three of our matches I could be sacked. In fact, no - I will be sacked."

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