Sven-Goran Eriksson's highs and lows as England manager

The world of football and beyond mourned Sven-Goran Eriksson with emotional tributes on Monday after it was announced that the former England manager had passed away aged 76 following his long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Read any of the heartfelt messages honouring Eriksson and it is clear that the Swede, who managed England between 2001 and 2006 in an era dubbed as the 'Golden Generation', will be remembered for much more than simply his influence on the football pitch, with Prince William labelling him a 'true gentleman' and Gary Lineker describing him as a 'very genuine guy'.

In his own heartbreaking final message, Eriksson admitted that his wish is to be remembered as 'a positive guy trying to do everything he could do'.

Eriksson's tenure brought some of the best memories in England's football history, but there were also spells of heartbreak during his time in charge, with the Three Lions agonisingly missing out on silverware on multiple occasions. 

Here, Mail Sport takes a look at the highs and lows of Eriksson's memorable five years as England manager.

HIGH: Thrashing the Germans 5-1

During his first year at the helm, Eriksson enamoured himself with the English supporters by producing one of the greatest results in Three Lions history: triumphing 5-1 over Germany.

'5-1, and even Heskey scored,' was the jubilant chant belted out by fans at the full-time whistle, after England humiliated their bitter rivals in Munich thanks to a hat-trick from Michael Owen and well-taken goals from Steven Gerrard and unsung hero Emile Heskey.

Germany had only ever lost one World Cup qualifier at home before Eriksson marshalled his England side to the astonishing victory, exciting fans with the dream of 2002 World Cup glory.

Reflecting on the memorable night in Munich back in 2011, David Beckham told Mail Sport that the victory rarely leaves his mind.

'Beating the Germans in Germany and the way we beat them was incredible,' Eriksson's former captain said. 'I think about that game almost every day. It was such an important game for us to win and the team performance was exceptional.' 

LOW: Penalty heartbreak against Portugal

Name a player in England's 2006 World Cup team and he was a superstar. From the centre-back duo of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry to the glittering midfield of David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard behind striker Wayne Rooney, the Three Lions went to Germany with one of the greatest squads they have ever produced.

It felt, after the heartbreak of the 2002 World Cup and 2004 European Championships, that Eriksson would finally take England to a major final for the first time since 1966 and perhaps even get his hands on the coveted trophy.

But up stepped Portugal at the quarter-final stage to pile more misery on England, who triumphed 3-1 on penalties after a controversial 0-0 draw across regular and extra time.

Fans have long remembered Cristiano Ronaldo's infamous 'wink' to the Portugal dugout after baiting the referee into sending Rooney off for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, which led to a huge swing of momentum midway through the second half.

The bitter exit to Portugal marked Eriksson's final major tournament in charge of England, who did not return to the World Cup quarter-finals until Gareth Southgate's first tournament 12 years later.

HIGH: Beckham's iconic free-kick

Fresh off the triumphant 5-1 win over Germany, Eriksson's England had the wind in their sails and were on course to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. 

But the Three Lions found themselves trailing 2-1 against Greece, staring down the barrel of a tricky World Cup play-off against Ukraine, before captain Beckham stepped up to take a free-kick deep into stoppage time.

Despite missing his last five long-range free-kicks, the then Manchester United star powered an unstoppable strike past the goalkeeper to score one of the best, if not most important, goals in English football history.

Paying tribute to Eriksson on Monday, Beckham posted a heartfelt message to his former manager, which read: 'Sven, thank you for always being the person you have always been, passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman.

'I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain.'

LOW: Penalty heartbreak against Portugal... again

Two years prior to Eriksson's World Cup heartbreak against Portugal, his England side suffered defeat on penalties by the same team in Lisbon at the 2004 European Championships.

While Eriksson's 2006 squad was still dubbed the 'Golden Generation', his 2004 England team perhaps had even more star power with the likes of Michael Owen, Sol Campbell and Paul Scholes joining Beckham and Co.

Owen fired England ahead inside three minutes before Helder Postiga levelled the quarter final in the 83rd minute, sending the match to extra time. 

Portugal's Rui Costa struck in the 110th minute before Lampard rescued the tie five minutes later, forcing a penalty shootout which England narrowly lost 6-5, with Darius Vassell missing the decisive spot-kick.

Rooney, who came into the tournament as one of the world's best players as an 18-year-old, fractured his right foot midway through the second half while England were 1-0 in front. 

Who knows how the tournament would have played out had he steered clear of injury...

HIGH: Revenge on Argentina

Eriksson was faced with a huge test in what was his first major tournament. England had drawn Argentina in the 2002 World Cup group stage - and these two had history.

Three Lions fans were still extremely sore from the 1998 World Cup exit under Glenn Hoddle, when Argentina beat England 4-3 on penalties in the round of 16 after Beckham's infamous red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone.

Viewed by many as the Beckham Simeone rematch, England and Argentina met in 2002 for a Group F clash with extra spice - and Eriksson marshalled his side to a well-fought 1-0 victory. 

Beckham lay the ghost of 1998 with a superb penalty just before half-time as England limited Argentina to a lack of clear cut chances with excellent defending led by Ashely Cole, Danny Mills, Ferdinand and Campbell. 

Eriksson's England went on to finish second in the 'Group of Death' behind Sweden, as Argentina crashed out of the tournament at the group stage. 

LOW: Ronaldinho's lob

After surpassing Argentina in the 2002 World Cup group stage and Denmark in the round of 16, Eriksson came up against his toughest opponents to date as England boss: eventual champions Brazil.

Stacked with superstars from all across the pitch, Brazil boasted the likes of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Rivaldo to name a few, while England were only just getting into their 'Golden Generation'.

Eriksson's Three Lions took the lead through Owen in the 23rd minute, inspiring hope of a famous upset, before Rivaldo levelled the score just before half-time.

Five minutes after the break, Ronaldinho took England's goalkeeper David Seaman by surprise with a stunning lobbed free-kick from distance, dumping the Three Lions out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage. 

Had England held on for the victory, Eriksson could well have taken his side all the way, with Germany, South Korea and Turkey the teams who advanced to the semi-finals alongside Brazil.

HIGH: Rooney running riot against Croatia

'I don't remember anyone making such an impact on a tournament since Pele in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden'.

Those were the words Eriksson used to describe 18-year-old Rooney after he inspired England to a 4-2 victory over Croatia at Euro 2004, netting a brace in the Three Lions' final group stage match.

After Croatia took a shock lead early on, England levelled through Scholes in the 40th minute before Rooney fired home in stoppage time at the end of the first half. 

His second goal doubled England's lead in the 68th minute in what was one of the most fluid attacking displays by the Three Lions during Eriksson's tenure.

Lampard capped off the excellent display after Croatia pulled one back in the 73rd minute, coolly slotting home the fourth after a positive run. 

Eriksson's side amassed a total of 14 shots on target during the end-to-end game, entertaining fans with an attacking brand of football often not seen at major tournaments.

LOW: Zidane's magic two minutes

Despite the 4-2 win over Croatia and 3-0 triumph over Switzerland, England's Euro 2004 campaign got off to the worst possible start against France.

In the tournament opener, Lampard netted before half-time to fire Eriksson's England ahead, rising highest to head home Beckham's free-kick.

Beckham had a golden opportunity to double England's lead from the penalty midway through the second half, after Rooney was brought down, but saw his spot-kick saved by France goalkeeper Fabian Barthez.

With just stoppage time to play, French icon Zinedine Zidane stepped up to take a free-kick in the 91st minute, curling his effort past David James and appearing to consign England to a draw against the 1998 World Cup winners.

Just two minutes later, Zidane won the match from the penalty spot after Thierry Henry was fouled by James inside the area, leaving Eriksson's men inconsolable a the final whistle, as they were forced to stomach a miserable 2-1 defeat.

HIGH: Eriksson's dazzling debut

Arriving as one of the most highly respected managers in Europe, Eriksson became the first foreign coach to take control of England - and the FA's decision was met with widespread controversy at the time.

However, dealing with the critics in a typically cool and composed manner, Eriksson began his tenure expertly, triumphing 3-0 over Spain at Villa Park during his first match as England boss.

The friendly, in February 2001, saw Nicky Barmby, Heskey and Ugo Ehiogu on the scoresheet against a Spain side boasting the likes of Iker Casillas, Raul and future manager supreme Pep Guardiola. 

Substitute goalkeeper Nigel Martyn capped off Eriksson's superb debut with a penalty save against Javi Moreno in the 78th minute, preserving the clean sheet.

LOW: Losing to Northern Ireland 

England's 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland in 2006 was a blotch on Eriksson's career with the Three Lions - and marked the Swede's first defeat in a World Cup qualifier.

David Healy scored the winning goal in what was an extremely frustrating match for Eriksson, who experimented with Rooney wide on the left and Beckham in a holding midfield role. 

It was one of just four games Northern Ireland have won against England in their history, with the Three Lions triumphing 35 times and the two sides drawing on seven occasions. 

The disappointing defeat marked England's only loss of the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign as Eriksson's side finished top behind Poland thanks to a one-point buffer.