Defiant Sven: I'm Worth the Money

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has insisted he deserves his vast salary and rejected claims that he has lost the ability to inspire his players.

Discussing his side's shock 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Northern Ireland on Wednesday and their recent run of dismal performances, Eriksson yesterday refused to blame the loss on England's controversial new formation in the game and insisted that David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can all fit successfully in the same team.

The Swede defended his decisionmaking and maintained that England succumbed to the world's 116th-ranked team because they 'lost spirit' after Wayne Rooney's 35th-minute booking and did not match the home side's determination.

He took the unusual step of criticising one of his players, branding the temperamental teenager 'stupid' for his costly tussle with Keith Gillespie.

'He is always playing to the edge. This is a stupid challenge and he could have been sent off,' said Eriksson. 'I think he played very well until he got booked, absolutely fantastic.'

Rooney's booking rules him out of England's must-win penultimate qualifier against Austria at Old Trafford on 8 October. Failure to make it to Germany next summer would end his five-year stint in charge of England, Eriksson said. 'If I do not go to the World Cup I will not have a job in this country and elsewhere. I can understand the criticism. If England do not qualify maybe I should not be here,' he said.

He rejected accusations that he is too laidback. 'I can motivate my players. Just because I am not shouting, it has nothing to do with motivation or passion. I care.' Eriksson said he had not slept for several nights after England lost the first of their 22 qualifiers in his era.

He defended his £4million annual salary. 'Have I given value for money for my salary? If you talk about Wednesday, no. If you talk about general qualification games, yes. It's a lot of money I know, huge money. I don't think I am paid more than others in my position.'

England would beat both Austria and group leaders Poland four days later to win their qualifying section and guarantee their place in Germany, he added.