Sven-Goran Eriksson: China can compete for World Cup glory in 10 years

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson doesn’t expect China’s great strides in football to remain confined to its Super League, predicting World Cup success for the country in the next 10 or 15 years.

Eriksson is currently at the helm of Shanghai SIPG, and from what he’s seen in his three years in China, he believes there could be a strong national side in the near future.

“The future for China is great. … I think I’m at the right place at the right time. You can always feel how football is growing in China,” Eriksson said Tuesday, according to Xinhua, Beijing’s official news agency.

Since Eriksson first took a job in China with Guangzhou R&F, construction on thousands of football academies has begun. It’s all part of president Xi Jinping’s plan to boost the country’s fortunes in the international game, and numerous foreign coaches and players have been attracted to China due to its riches and ambition in the sport.

“I’ve been in Italy during the ’90s when every player wanted to come to Italy because the football was very good, then I was in England during the 2000s and all the players wanted to go to the Premier League because of more money and the good football,” Eriksson said.

“Now, in 2016, it seems that every player wants to come to China for the same reasons. (All the money) will make the clubs much stronger. Maybe 10 or 15 years ahead, I’m sure China’s national team will compete well (enough) to win the World Cup.”

Eriksson takes his team to Melbourne Victory on Wednesday for the group stages of the AFC Champions League.

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