Sven's mind-game master

Railo studied psychology for 10 years at the Norwegian Sports Institute before he felt ready to discharge his ideas on sportsmen and he insists there is no quick fix.

He has no doubt, however, that the methods he and Eriksson have developed in the 20 years they have worked together are beginning to change the attitude and approach of the England players.

Railo told Oslo newspaper VG that the work he did at Lazio with Eriksson demonstrated their methods. He said: 'When we arrived there the players regarded themselves as a team of losers.

'They had the mentality that when the ball hit the post it was going to go out rather than in. When the tyre on the team bus burst they said that was just typical of their luck

'This team had poor team spirit, little togetherness. They had developeda negative culture, a problem culture. We had to turn that round. We had to change the way of thinking, get rid of the players who could not adapt to a more positive culture. I am speaking about people I call energy killers.'

He cites the example of an unnamed Lazio player who was very rich, very conceited and very selfish, and he and Eriksson discussed how he might be handled. A couple of days later, Eriksson sold him.

Railo said: 'Sven is a very pleasant man, a good man, but he is tougher than many think. Together we can spot energy killers very quickly.'

He does not suggest Eriksson already has a World Cup-winning side on his hands but he is positive enough to suggest they have a very good chance.

Railo's track record suggests he works with winners. Long distance runner Ingrid Kristiansen tells of the period in her life when, because of an inferiority complex, she always believed she would lose to her compatriot, Grete Waitz.

Railo told Kristiansen that, in her mind, she had already settled for second place and that she had to learn how to be a winner. He explained that she had to visualise herself being in front in a race.

He argues that it is equally important you do not fear failure. He worked with Bjorn Borg and said: 'He hated to lose but it didn't scare him. Winners hate to lose but they're not afraid of failure. Because, if you're afraid, you don't try the things that will make you win.'

Whether this applies to team sports is arguable and Railo says that if you were to ask a top golfer how much the mental side of their game mattered he would never say less than 90 per cent. Ask a footballer and he would say 30 per cent.

Railo said: 'Football has not been very advanced in diet and a scientific and mental approach. In 10 years it will be on a different level from today. And that will be down to men like Eriksson.'