Carry on Sven

ENGLAND coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup plans will be unaffected by his affair with Ulrika Jonsson.

Tord Grip, Eriksson's No2 and closest friend, became the first senior person from the Football Association to break ranks today by discussing the sensational revelations.

Grip claimed that the exposure of the affair has had no impact on the England coach's thinking for Japan.

However, he did admit that if the repercussions of the affair continued into the World Cup next month, that could be a "problem".

Eriksson is believed to have given assurances to senior FA figures, including chief executive Adam Crozier, that he has no intention of quitting England after his relationship with the television presenter became public.

Grip said: "This has nothing to do with the preparations for the World Cup.

That is going on as planned because it has to.

"If it had happened during the World Cup, then it would be a problem. But, hopefully, this will be over and forgotten when we are playing in Japan. Sven and I haven't talked about this but I am sure we will.

"Soon we will have to pick our squad but it will not affect the players.

They are more used to this than we are. I don't think this will disturb Sven."

Eriksson, who lives with girlfriend Nancy Dell'Olio, was at Highbury yesterday to see Arsenal's victory over Ipswich and he was due to face the media later today when he launches the England players' suits for the World Cup, which are designed by Burton.

Eriksson and the England squad begin their World Cup preparations in earnest at the end of May when they travel to Dubai for a relaxation break with their families. They then head to Japan to play South Korea on 21 May and Cameroon on 26 May before their opening World Cup match against Sweden on 2 June.

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