Trevor Huggins

England need only a draw against an already eliminated side on Wednesday to reach the second round, but Eriksson insisted they could not afford to take it easy.

"Today's result was extremely surprising," the Swede told reporters after France's 2-0 defeat to Denmark.

"I wish I'd bet on that before the World Cup. I don't think anyone would ever have believed that.

"But it just confirmed you don't have any easy games at all.

"I've only seen one at this World Cup, Germany vs Saudi Arabia (8-0) -- all the others were tight and anything could have happened.

"Of course, it's the same for tomorrow, anything can happen.

"It will be one more tight game and we will have to do very well to win it.

"If we start slowly, we will not win. I am sure Nigeria do not want to go back home with zero points."

BEATING GERMANY

Looking back on England's past struggles after an important victory, such as Friday's over Argentina, Eriksson said: "I hope we learned our lesson when we beat Germany away and then almost lost the (automatic) qualification at home against Greece.

"We were lucky to draw that game.

"And of course, at the World Cup, if you're not 100 per cent focused on what you're doing you will not win a game."

Asked whether he would prefer group A winners Denmark or runners-up Senegal in the second round, Eriksson said: "My preference is to get through the group and whatever happens after that is welcome."

Eriksson gave a clear hint that the side which beat Argentina, including midfielder Trevor Sinclair - who came on for injured Owen Hargreaves after 19 minutes - would start on Wednesday.

"Small changes, maybe none," he said. "I think with the performance they put in against Argentina maybe they deserve to have another chance."

As for Hargreaves, whose scan on a leg injury on Monday proved inconclusive, he said: "I don't think it seems as bad as you might have thought."