Outgoing head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson still believes that England can win a major tournament in the near future, despite his reign ending in disappointment at the World Cup in Germany.

Eriksson has taken England to the last eight of the last three international tournaments and thinks that success is not far away.

He said: "It's whether three quarter-finals is good enough.

"I think the first two were good enough but this is not good enough. When you see the teams in the semi-finals we should be there and I am sorry we are not there.

"We had a very good chance and didn't take it. The opportunity was there, I am sorry about that.

"I think England will have opportunities in the future, they have a lot of good players. The future is good."

"It will happen in the future. England is almost there. It seems a long time and there are few opportunities, but England will win a big tournament.

"If you look at how we are playing and how others are playing, England is not number two to anyone.

"The problem with international football is that the big tournaments are only every second year. It is a long time to wait for the next one. The next World Cup is four years.

"It's different when you talk about winning the Premier League, the Champions League or the UEFA Cup.

"You have that chance every year, but I am certain England will win a tournament one day. I was convinced this year was the right time, but I was wrong."