Sven wants to wed says Nancy

Nancy Dell'Olio today revealed that England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had asked her to marry him - but said he was still waiting for her answer.

She said that despite his high-profile affair with Ulrika Jonsson two years ago their relationship was now stronger than ever and no one could come between them.

Miss Dell'Olio, 41, made her comments in a magazine interview carried out before the start of England's campaign in Portugal. When asked if Eriksson had proposed she said: "Of course. That's why I agreed to live with him in the beginning, but it wasn't the right time then."

She said: "I don't know why people are always saying he doesn't want to get married because actually he's waiting for me to make up my mind."

Miss Dell'Olio told Hello! magazine she still trusted Eriksson despite his affair with Ms Jonsson.

She said: "Trust depends on how strong your relationship is. I know the truth of what has happened in our relationship and that's why I can trust Sven again. Nobody can come between us. It has never happened - only in someone else's mind."

She said she had not ruled out becoming a mother. "It's still a possibility but, ridiculous as it sounds, sometimes I think I'm still not ready to have children."

Miss Dell'Olio, who is an Italian lawyer, also revealed plans to launch a career in television.

She said: "I've always been in Sven's shadow because he's the one with the big job. Although I've never felt that I was in the background because I have a very strong personality, the time has come where I feel I would like to develop something in my own right and maybe TV would be a good medium."

She feels she also has a role to play in England's chances of victory in Portugal.

She said: "I try to support Sven as much as I can, to get along with everyone and be friendly to the players' wives. If the wives are happy the husbands are happy and will play better. It's team work."