Sweden needed a last minute equalizer from Henrik Larsson to help their progress into round two and once more stalled England’s hopes of impressing before reaching the knockout stages.
Twice ahead England will be thankful that a combination of the cross bar and Paul Robinson saved them on more than one occasion and will realize that they have to defend better from set pieces if they want to be taken seriously.
Knowing that a win was enough or a draw was enough to enable them to avoid hosts Germany at the business end was enough motivation for England, who started with Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney up front for the first time in five months. Gerrard took a break because his yellow card in the opening game and Owen Hargreaves took over to fill in the holding role.
Sweden, knowing that if Trinidad bettered their result they would be eliminated, fielded an unchanged side from the victory over Paraguay. Arsenal’s Freddie Ljungberg started in a free role and Kim Kallstrom kept his place ahead of Christian Wilhelmsson.
Looking to impress after slow starts against Trinidad and Paraguay, England came out of the blocks flying. Rooney was on top form as he battled back to full fitness following his metatarsal injury. Unfortunately for the three lions Michael Owen had to be stretchered off in the early stages after twisting his knee badly when trying to play a pass.
After having his first choice pairing back to full fitness England manager Eriksson was again cursing the injury jinx which seemingly struck his ambitious young side.
Things didn’t get much better as early chances went begging from Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, but with Cole showing the form which he regularly sports for Chelsea there were positive signs for his country.
After twenty one minutes the left midfielder tested the keeper with a long range shot from the edge of the area after cutting inside his defender. With only Lampard driving forward from the central midfield position there was plenty of space for the young winger to expose and with this effort he showed his intentions of scoring his first World Cup goal.
Much criticized captain David Beckham was also on a mission to prove his worth to the team and he nearly provided the opening goal with a trademark free kick from a wide angle. Isaksson did just enough to palm over the ferocious effort which appeared to just need one touch if it was to hit the net.
With England now rampant and full of confidence it was only a matter of time before they did take the lead and it was a goal well worth waiting for. A half cleared free kick fell to Cole on the edge of the box who controlled with his chest before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt volley into the top corner. The keeper was caught by surprise at the earliness and the range of the strike but he was helpless to stop one of the best long range efforts the World Cup has seen.
In scoring the vital first goal for his team, Cole had given England the momentum to now go on and make certain their place at the top of the group.
It was not to be however and England were pegged back by a header from Marcus Allback. The former Villa player who failed to impress during his time in England snuck in due to some poor England marking as was allowed a free header which he directed into the far corner of the goal with the hopefuls of England left bewildered.
It didn’t get much better for England as first they lost Ferdinand to injury and then suffered two scares in which Sweden nearly took the lead. On the first occasion England were caught napping at the back, a Kallstrom corner driven over found its way to the head Larsson who’s deflected header was tipped onto the bar somehow by Paul Robinson.
The second moment was more alarming for England and came from a corner again as Mellberg was able to find some space before clipping a volley onto the cross bar. England looked to battle back but every time a set piece came in they looked liable to concede a goal.
The introduction of Gerrard helped England somewhat and it wasn’t long before they were able to make the most of the Liverpool players’ great strengths.
Linking up with Lampard he sped up the pace of the game and made no mistake when found by Joe Cole at the back post it seemed undoubtable that Gerrard would score. His header finished in the net and England presumed that victory would be theirs in dramatic style. Once more it was Cole’s inventive magic which had made the goal but the way Gerrard out lept his man showed his great ability.
It wasn’t to be however for England as another mix up in defense allowed Larsson to score a header at the near post. Allowing the ball to bounce, seven England defenders were by passed as the Swedish predator snuck in to ensure his teams progress to the second road.
Paul Robinson, furious with his defense smashed the ball up the field but it was little consolation to him that he had nothing to do throughout the game.
Knowing that a win was enough or a draw was enough to enable them to avoid hosts Germany at the business end was enough motivation for England, who started with Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney up front for the first time in five months. Gerrard took a break because his yellow card in the opening game and Owen Hargreaves took over to fill in the holding role.
Sweden, knowing that if Trinidad bettered their result they would be eliminated, fielded an unchanged side from the victory over Paraguay. Arsenal’s Freddie Ljungberg started in a free role and Kim Kallstrom kept his place ahead of Christian Wilhelmsson.
Looking to impress after slow starts against Trinidad and Paraguay, England came out of the blocks flying. Rooney was on top form as he battled back to full fitness following his metatarsal injury. Unfortunately for the three lions Michael Owen had to be stretchered off in the early stages after twisting his knee badly when trying to play a pass.
After having his first choice pairing back to full fitness England manager Eriksson was again cursing the injury jinx which seemingly struck his ambitious young side.
Things didn’t get much better as early chances went begging from Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, but with Cole showing the form which he regularly sports for Chelsea there were positive signs for his country.
After twenty one minutes the left midfielder tested the keeper with a long range shot from the edge of the area after cutting inside his defender. With only Lampard driving forward from the central midfield position there was plenty of space for the young winger to expose and with this effort he showed his intentions of scoring his first World Cup goal.
Much criticized captain David Beckham was also on a mission to prove his worth to the team and he nearly provided the opening goal with a trademark free kick from a wide angle. Isaksson did just enough to palm over the ferocious effort which appeared to just need one touch if it was to hit the net.
With England now rampant and full of confidence it was only a matter of time before they did take the lead and it was a goal well worth waiting for. A half cleared free kick fell to Cole on the edge of the box who controlled with his chest before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt volley into the top corner. The keeper was caught by surprise at the earliness and the range of the strike but he was helpless to stop one of the best long range efforts the World Cup has seen.
In scoring the vital first goal for his team, Cole had given England the momentum to now go on and make certain their place at the top of the group.
It was not to be however and England were pegged back by a header from Marcus Allback. The former Villa player who failed to impress during his time in England snuck in due to some poor England marking as was allowed a free header which he directed into the far corner of the goal with the hopefuls of England left bewildered.
It didn’t get much better for England as first they lost Ferdinand to injury and then suffered two scares in which Sweden nearly took the lead. On the first occasion England were caught napping at the back, a Kallstrom corner driven over found its way to the head Larsson who’s deflected header was tipped onto the bar somehow by Paul Robinson.
The second moment was more alarming for England and came from a corner again as Mellberg was able to find some space before clipping a volley onto the cross bar. England looked to battle back but every time a set piece came in they looked liable to concede a goal.
The introduction of Gerrard helped England somewhat and it wasn’t long before they were able to make the most of the Liverpool players’ great strengths.
Linking up with Lampard he sped up the pace of the game and made no mistake when found by Joe Cole at the back post it seemed undoubtable that Gerrard would score. His header finished in the net and England presumed that victory would be theirs in dramatic style. Once more it was Cole’s inventive magic which had made the goal but the way Gerrard out lept his man showed his great ability.
It wasn’t to be however for England as another mix up in defense allowed Larsson to score a header at the near post. Allowing the ball to bounce, seven England defenders were by passed as the Swedish predator snuck in to ensure his teams progress to the second road.
Paul Robinson, furious with his defense smashed the ball up the field but it was little consolation to him that he had nothing to do throughout the game.