Parker: Euro bid is over

"It's been pretty hectic for me over the last couple of months, but there is a big game at the weekend and another one next Tuesday. I'm just happy I was in the squad. "Hopefully, I can persuade him by playing well for Chelsea but there are many good players in my position in the country.

"I said at Charlton at the beginning of the season that it would be difficult for me to do it. The game on Tuesday is a massive one for Chelsea and the league is still in sight. We do believe it can happen for us in either competition or what's the point in playing?"

Cole may still go along with Jermain Defoe whose fine performance in attack after coming on for the injured Darius Vassell early in the first half has given Eriksson a selection dilemma.

The Spurs striker proved he has the potential to cope with international football, but his chance could have come just too late with Eriksson set to take Emile Heskey, Michael Owen, Vassell and Wayne Rooney to Lisbon.

Defoe created a number of openings for himself and was unlucky not to score in the second half, but he was delighted with his debut and might have done enough to force his way into Eriksson's plans.

He said: "The manager just said well done to everyone afterwards. As it was a friendly, the result was perhaps not that important but hopefully I've done enough. I've enjoyed being around great players and I knew it was my last chance to get into the squad like most of the other players."

Defoe's performance was hailed as outstanding by his former West Ham teammate, Manchester City goalkeeper David James.

"He looked sharp and I thought he played particularly well," said James. "He looked very much like he did when he was at West Ham with me. I say that with happiness because he's playing against a lot better standard of defender with all due respect to those in the First Division.

"It's up to him to continue that form between now and selection day. I was concerned that he wasn't being tested playing in the First Division. But he's gone to Spurs and annihilated a few defenders in the Premiership. He is more than capable of doing the job and if he gets the nod, then he will be ready for it."

England were missing many of their star names such as Owen, David Beckham and Sol Campbell. Stand-in captain Steven Gerrard, who lost his unbeaten record in an England shirt, admitted: "We missed the big boys. You're always going to miss that much quality, even though the new faces did okay. The manager tried a lot of things but I'm sure we'll be ready when the serious stuff comes on."

As for Eriksson's other experiments, Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson was rather damned by faint praise after a largely unspectacular performance.

"I thought he did okay. His left foot is very good so he did what I expected from him," said the England coach.

He added: "England played well in the first half, created some good chances and maybe could have drawn the game.

"But in the second half, Sweden were better and physically stronger. I'm sorry that we lost the game but that's it."