Sven Goran Eriksson has come out fighting ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier with Poland, amid reports that he could face the sack if England lose the Group Six encounter.

Following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Austria, Eriksson has come under pressure rfom sections of the British press.

“I always refuse to make comments about it [his future], why should I be worried about problems that may never happen,” said Eriksson.

“I have never been sacked so I don’t know what that is like, but the longer you go on the more likely it is.

“I am not thinking about it and I am not worried about it, I am thinking about Poland and that is that.

“I am quite sure we will play in the World Cup in Germany and I hope we will play as good as we did in the first half and parts of the second from Saturday.

“We have now had one draw and it would have been better to win, but I am very positive we will be in Germany – I don’t agree with those panicking after one draw away, I think we should have won but that is football.

“We made mistakes and that cost us two points.

“The players are not panicking – I talked to them after the game and they are calm and confident, they know they played some good football.

“It is good people expect England to win, but life is not that easy.

“From outside the pressure is big, but I do feel it is important the players are calm and they do their job on the pitch.”