Jack Charlton has yet to be convinced by the Sven-Goran Eriksson era - but he is still backing the Swede for World Cup glory.

Charlton admits Eriksson's squad has enough talent to send him out with a bang in Germany this summer.

He said: "We have got some tremendously gifted players and we have got some very good competitors and we have got people like Wayne Rooney who can change the game in seconds. They have got an opportunity now. I will be very surprised if we don't do well in this competition."

He added: "We have got as good a set of players, playing for England now, as we have had since my era."

The 1966 World Cup-winner and former Republic of Ireland manager has never been totally impressed by the Eriksson reign, however.

Charlton said: "Eriksson did a reasonable job, but nothing exceptional that could not have been done by anybody else in England.

"The only real result he had that caused you to clap was when he beat Germany 5-1 - and I watched that game, and we had five shots and scored five goals.

"I thought we were a bit lucky to get away with it that day - but we did. As far as the rest of the games are concerned, I don't think he has beaten anyone remarkable."

Charlton claims a foreign coach does not have the "commitment" to the English cause and opposes candidates like Dutchman Guus Hiddink or Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.

He added: "I have always wanted an Englishman. There's quite a few who would do a good job, but we have got to make sure he is Great British. I don't think foreign managers have the commitment."