England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believes a winter break would benefit English football and help the cause of the national team.

Eriksson is concerned that his players will arrive in Japan and South Korea weary after a hard season climaxed by a hectic run-in of fixtures.

"England is one of the few countries where you don't have a winter break," Eriksson told the Mirror newspaper.

"Normally in the Italian League between Christmas and New Year you have a break.

"But in England you play on, so it's impossible for any player to be on top all season.

"I am not coming here to tell English football how the league should be run, but it is a long and hard season and a winter break would help the players."