Sven's 'golden boys' the envy of the world

The strikers will lead England into Euro 2004 qualifying battle against Slovakia this evening as the Riverside hosts its first international.

Rooney's stunning full England debut, against Turkey at Sunderland in April, caused shockwaves that resonated well beyond the Stadium of Light.

And with Owen also feared by opponents, Eriksson reckons his young forward line is the envy of coaches around the globe.

Eriksson said: "Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen are two young golden boys and the idea of them playing together is a very good one.

"I can understand why people are so excited by the prospect of Wayne and Michael up front.

"Wayne Rooney is a great talent and we - you - should be very happy that he and Michael Owen are English.

"A lot of people saw the Turkey game and a lot of football people I know were very impressed by what they saw of Wayne Rooney.

"And when they heard he was only 17, they were even more impressed.

"I don't know if Michael Owen is more famous outside England than in England, but everyone in the football world and every defender knows him and respects him."

Owen is immensely proud of reaching his half-century of caps this evening, barely five years after making his debut against Chile in February 1998.

Throughout England's peaks and troughs since then - including two World Cups and a European Championship - Owen has been a near ever-present.

Yesterday, he reflected on the highs of his England career - and also his most miserable time as an international player.

Owen said: "Euro 2000 was probably a big low point. That was a time when I was still not right after my injuries.

"I was quite low on confidence at the time, and we didn't do well as a team, either.

"But I scored a goal in Paris against France a few months later, and after that I finished the season well and scored a lot of goals."

Owen has hit 20 international goals - still well behind Sir Bobby Charlton's England record of 49.

The 2001 European Footballer of the Year has struck against the world's best - including Brazil, Argentina and Germany.

And Owen added: "Not even one per cent of players get to play in the World Cup, and I scored to put us 1-0 up in the quarter-finals.

"Everything clicked for the team in Germany, and the feeling when I scored against Argentina in the World Cup was something I'd never experienced.

"Bobby Charlton's record is a long way off, but it would be achievable if I were still playing in ten years' time and I'd played right the way through."

While first David Beckham and now Rooney have stolen the England limelight, Owen has been a reliable goalscorer ever since he broke his duck before France 98.

He admitted last week that he was content to let his teammates hog the headlines, but Eriksson would never underestimate Owen's importance to his side.

The England coach said: "For Michael Owen to have 50 caps when he's just 23 is amazing. There can't be many players in the world that have done that.

"He's been one of the top goalscorers in the Premiership in the last three or four years, and he's sharp in the head as well as being quick.

"When you sign a contract to coach England and you have Michael Owen to work with, of course you are happy.

"You know you will always score goals when you have someone like him in your team.

"He's also someone who normally scores in important games.

"He scored three against Germany - can you tell me how many players have done that?

"I never forget how good he is; he's one of the players that you build the team around.

"What we do forget sometimes, though, is that he's 23. He hasn't reached his peak as a footballer; normally, players do that when they're 27 or 28.

"We always expect Michael Owen to score goals, but sometimes he misses chances.

"Even so, I'm surprised that people are sometimes so quick to criticise him."