ENGLAND coach Sven Goran Eriksson has warned his players they must "respect" Albania when the two sides clash at St James' Park tonight.

After watching his side cruise to a 5-1 victory over old foes Germany on Saturday, Eriksson could be forgiven for thinking that finishing top of Group Nine would be a formality.

But the suave Swede is wise enough to know that football does not work like that and he is remaining calm despite the euphoria that has suddenly gripped the nation following that tremendous night in Munich.

Germany are, after all, still top of the group and only victories against Albania and then Greece on October 6 at Old Trafford will guarantee automatic qualification to next year's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Eriksson is not one to show much emotion, but declared his young side could form the basis of the England team until the 2006 World Cup as he challenged them to prove their greatness by building on their win in Germany.

But Eriksson admits that the Tyneside encounter will not be taken lightly. He said: "They will be coming here with absolutely nothing to lose.

"They can't finish second in the group and they can't win the group so they have nothing to lose. They will just go out there and try to play the better football and the best football they can.

"We have everything to lose, everything. I think they will have read the Press and I'm sure they will be the non-favourite trying to beat the good team."

And the England chief, the first to lead the national team to success in Munich since 1965, insists that this evening's opponents will be a tougher test than what many are leading to believe.

His side's unconvincing 3-1 win in Tirana back in March was used as an example when it took 73 minutes before Michael Owen broke the deadlock.

He said: "It was not an easy game out there in Albania because they were a very well organised side.

"I think that we should always remember that Germany only beat Albania at home in the last minutes. I have to respect Albania and so do the players.

"Every game they have played they have been very close and technically they are a very good side, we will have to gave them the respect they deserve."

England are now quoted by some bookmakers as 9-1 to win the World Cup next summer after the unforgettable night in Munich.

But, despite being delighted with the performance in the Olympic Stadium, the master tactician remains realistic and is still pinpointing room for improvement in his team's display.

"While the Germany game was an excellent performance and you don't normally go there and win 5-1 and we did, that is just one small step and we have to remember that," said Eriksson, who has drafted in Ian Walker as his third choice keeper following an injury to Nigel Martyn.

"It's a bit mystic in international football. It's always very difficult to score if you get that into your head, but if we are going to win then we must score lots of goals and at the same time be disciplined.

"We have to defend very well and keep possession, if we don't do that we will never have a good game.

"I think there were some things we should have done better. It may sound stupid because it was such a good result.

"Germany though had three or four good chances to score and they should have done in at least one. So we have always got to try to improve and do better."

He added: ''I think England have a very good team now and an even better one for the future. It would be very nice to reach the World Cup finals because I think that we might do very well there.

''Although we have a young team there is a lot of experience. Players like Michael Owen, David Beckham and Paul Scholes have played a lot of international football.

''Most of these players could play in the national team for the next five, six or seven years if they keep on doing what they have been doing.''

With only Leeds United stopper Martyn ruled out Eriksson is expected to name the same starting 11 which proved so successful against Rudi Voller's men.

That will mean a heroes welcome from the St James' crowd and while many are beginning to feel that this is a squad on the verge of lifting trophies, cautious Eriksson is staying cool until qualification is assured. Since the Spain game back in February it has got easier for me to pick the squad that I want and to find my best 11," said Eriksson "People said in the beginning I should play this way or that way but now I'm finding out the best way to play.

"The confidence is much better now. Saturday could have been the start of something big but I will know nothing until October. If we are to be a great team then the next two games are very important for us. A great team does not just go out and do the best against the best teams. The great teams have to go out and win a lot of games.

"I'm happy that there's been so much enthusiasm around the team but to be heroes I would like to be that in June."

Eriksson reacted to news that he is being touted as the next Manchester United manager by issuing a firm "no".

The former Lazio boss is among the favourites to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson in the Old Trafford hot-seat when the latter steps down from his role next summer.

But Eriksson said: "I have never thought about it, have never heard and no. I'm happy where I am - extremely happy.''