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Sven-Goran Eriksson has written off England's chances of winning the World Cup next summer.
The 65-year-old Swede, now coach of Chinese Super League team Guangzhou R&F, led England to the quarter-finals in 2002 and 2006.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: "I don't believe they can win the World Cup in Brazil. Maybe in Russia in 2018. There are a lot of young players coming in.
"I think it's easier to win it there than in Brazil."
Roy Hodgson's side secured qualification for Brazil by winning their group but only find themselves in the second pot of seeds for the 6 December draw for next summer's tournament.
They will have to make history if they are to repeat their solitary World Cup win of 1966, as no European side have won the competition in South America.
FA chairman Greg Dyke has also played down England's hopes next year and targeted success in the 2022 World Cup.
Eriksson believes another run to the last eight, matching his own best with England, would not represent failure for Hodgson, whose predecessor Fabio Capello saw his team beaten by Germany in the second round in 2010.
He added: "Expectation does not seem to be what it was in the past and I think that's very good for the team.
"The quarter-finals would be very good. It is time for a semi-final or final."
However, Eriksson believes a winter break in English football is needed for success.
"It's not that difficult. Take one week in January and give the players a week off, then take them in and prepare for the game after," he said.
"I think everyone agrees if you take a break it will be very good for England.
"Is that the main thing holding England back? For sure, it's one thing, maybe the easiest thing. I know players would love it and they would feel better for the rest of the season."
Meanwhile, Eriksson has defended his former England captain David Beckham's professionalism following recent criticism from ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson over the player's celebrity lifestyle.
Writing in his latest autobiography, the Scot remarked that Beckham was the "only player I managed who chose to be famous".
Eriksson added: "David Beckham, for me, every time he came to England camps he was an extremely professional football player. You asked yourself 'how could he handle it?' Wherever we went it was chaos.
"I think players were very much all right with that; it took the pressure off them. He was very professional then and he has been all his life.
"He was very good all the time he was captain."
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