Grip thinking positive for England

13 April 2012

Tord Grip has emphasised the importance that a positive result against Holland holds as England's players prepare for the World Cup qualifier with Germany.  

England's assistant coach believes the winning momentum of the national team helps the mental approach to each individual match.

And Grip thinks that it is crucial to the aspirations of qualifying for next summer's finals to keep that intact.

The current record under Sven-Goran Eriksson reads played five, won five and Grip claims that each time the squad re-gathers, past memories can be drawn upon to breed further confidence ahead of the showdown in Munich on September 1.

A victory over a talented Dutch side, albeit in a friendly and with some key players missing, at White Hart Lane on Wednesday would boost the collective psyche further.

Previous managers have used friendlies to experiment and although Eriksson is likely to field 22 players during the night, Grip says the result is paramount just two-and-a-half weeks before the Germany clash.

"I think it is important to try to have the attitude to go out and try and win every game," he said.

"If you start thinking that this game doesn't matter I don't think it is good - and I hope that the players will have my attitude.

"That is the only way to win something. Otherwise if you lose and lose badly that will disturb us and make us frustrated.

"We have been lucky so far because we have always been preparing a team that had won matches so we didn't need to worry too much about changes.

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