Eriksson stays calm

Eriksson (centre) contemplates defeat by the Dutch

Sven Goran Eriksson insists there will be "no panic" after England's 2-0 friendly defeat by Holland at White Hart Lane.

A spectacular 35-yard strike from Mark van Bommell in the 38th minute, followed a minute later by a poacher's goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy were enough to see off the hosts.

The loss was the first of Eriksson's reign as England coach and came 17 days before the crucial World Cup qualifier against Germany.

But the Swede said: "We lost a game but if we were worried about that it would be very stupid because we are a good team and will do much better next time.

We should be at least as good as Holland but today it wasn't like that

  Sven Goran Eriksson

Eriksson said: "To lose is frustrating, and I hate to lose, but you have to accept it especially as in the first half Holland were a better team than we were.

"We showed them too much respect, played very deep and were in trouble trying to keep the ball.

"They created a lot of problems for us. Very few of our players were at their sharpest in the first half.

"We learnt that we should go out with a better attitude - even if they are Holland we should go out and attack them.

Satisfied

"I think we should be at least as good as Holland, but today it was not like that."

But Eriksson did take some positives from the match.

"Some young players did very well and that's very important," the Swede said.

He added that he was satisfied with the international debut of Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

"He played in a position he's not used to playing," Eriksson said. "It was interesting to see him and he played a good game.

We can't play much worse than that

  Michael Owen

"I don't think it was too early for him."

Captain David Beckham said England should not be too disheartened with their performance and could still look ahead to the Germany game with confidence.

"We are a young and inexperienced team and it's a learning experience for us," the Manchester United midfielder said.

"It was a stepping stone for the big one. I don't think confidence has been knocked too much tonight.

"At the end of the day it's only a friendly and the big one's next month."

Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who came on as a second-half substitute, agreed that defeat was not a disaster.

"We can't play much worse than that," he said. "But just as we shouldn't get too excited about winning against Mexico, we shouldn't get too disappointed about this.

"When one thing goes wrong it seems like everything goes wrong.

"We didn't defend well and we couldn't pass the ball. When you can't pass the ball there's not a lot you can do."