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 Tuesday, June 27, 2006England 1-0 Ecuador David Beckham became the first England player to score at three World Cups as his free-kick earned a quarter-final tie against Portugal on Saturday. Beckham defied illness to curl home from 30 yards on the hour mark, but England made hard work of Ecuador. The South Americans could have gone in front early on, Carlos Tenorio's shot deflecting off Ashley Cole and on to the bar after John Terry's mistake. Frank Lampard missed two fine chances but England had done enough to win. Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will now play Portugal - after their stormy 1-0 win against Holland - on Saturday 1 July in Gelsenkirchen. Again Eriksson will point to a job done, but again it was an England display which will produce more questions than answers. They had to rely on a trademark free-kick from Beckham, who was later sick on the pitch after suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Playing a 4-1-4-1 formation with Wayne Rooney up front alone, England looked comfortable and clumsy in equal measure on a strange afternoon in Stuttgart. Yet they started off by doing the sensible thing in the stifling heat, with Michael Carrick at the hub as they passed the ball around and made Ecuador do the running. However, the first genuine chance fell to the South Americans and after an error by John Terry they came agonisingly close to taking the lead. Terry completely mis-timed a headed clearance and the ball fell to Carlos Tenorio to run clean through, the striker's fierce shot crashing off the bar thanks to a fine sliding block from Ashley Cole. It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance from England - one minute keeping the ball with ease, the next giving it away and inviting pressure on to them. Rooney cut an isolated figure as England put more effort into not conceding than scoring but they still looked shaky at the back, as Rio Ferdinand nearly put through his own net and Terry was booked for a neck-high tackle on Carlos Tenorio. The decision to play Carrick in the holding role gave England a better base to build from, but Lampard and Gerrard were not getting forward enough to give the increasingly frustrated Rooney some much-needed support. The 20-year-old could only look on with envy at the other end as Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado hunted as a pair, causing Terry and Ferdinand to lose their usual composure. Gerrard took it upon himself to improve things after the break as he bombed forward from the left, only to see his centre run across the six-yard line with no England player in sight. When the breakthrough came, it was like travelling back in time to 2001 when Beckham was at the very peak of his powers. He sized up the opportunity from 30 yards, wonderfully whipped the ball over the wall and towards the bottom corner and saw it creep past Cristian Mora at his near post. Lampard twice had chances straight after to double the lead, first dragging a left-foot shot wide then failing to find Rooney in the box when he should have shot himself. He missed a sitter with 17 minutes left too, blazing over from 14 yards after some sensational skill from Rooney by the left touchline. Fortunately, it made no difference. England, for the second time under Eriksson, have reached the last eight of the World Cup finals. 
Friday, June 23, 2006Sweden 2-2 England England will play Ecuador in the last 16 of the World Cup after securing a draw with Sweden to top Group B. England went in front when Joe Cole hit a sensational lob from 35 yards, only for Marcus Allback to equalise when he headed home from a right-wing corner. Steven Gerrard headed in Joe Cole's 85th-minute cross, but Henrik Larsson levelled for Sweden in injury time. The result was marred by a knee injury to striker Michael Owen, who was stretchered off in the first minute. England will now meet Ecuador in the second round on Sunday at 1600 BST in Stuttgart, while Sweden play Germany in Munich 24 hours earlier. It was an improved display from England, but they will be concerned by the way they struggled after the break having dominated the first half. England knew if they could win or draw they would avoid a knock-out encounter with in-form hosts Germany. But if Sven-Goran Eriksson was looking for a bright start from his side, it could barely have been any worse. With less than a minute on the clock, Owen picked the ball up on the left and as he tried to pass it, his right knee buckled underneath him. He immediately crawled to the touchline in agony and received treatment before being stretchered off, replaced by Peter Crouch. Owen's team-mates looked shell-shocked at such a cruel twist of fate and the contest took time to get going as a result. When it did get going it was England in the ascendancy, as Joe Cole fired over and Rooney went on a mazy dribble only to see Teddy Lucic block his goalbound shot. When they went ahead, it was thanks to a goal that announced Joe Cole on the world stage as one of the stars of this tournament. The Chelsea midfielder chested down a clearance 35 yards out and hit the most outrageous, dipping volley that Andreas Isaksson could only help into the top corner. In a World Cup already full to the brim of sensational strikes, this one will remain up there with the very best. England were buzzing, Joe Cole and Rooney in particular, and Frank Lampard and Rooney shot just over as England tried to double their lead. But they were hit by a sucker-punch six minutes after the break, as Allback rose all too easily to glance home a Tobias Linderoth corner. Former Villa striker Allback nearly made it two from another corner as England failed to learn their lesson, this time the ball ricocheting off Jamie Carragher's arm and Paul Robinson brilliantly reacting to tip it onto the bar. From being in total control, England were all of a sudden in disarray. Another corner, another free header - this time for Lucic - and Olof Mellberg volleyed against Robinson's crossbar. England still looked shaky at the back and substitute Gerrard had to hack the ball off the line after Kim Kallstrom fired goalwards, as yet again a corner caused chaos. Just as England looked like they were on the rack, Joe Cole crossed for Gerrard to nod in at the far post. But they were denied a first win over Sweden since 22 May 1968 when they failed to clear another ball pumped into their box and Larsson pounced to poke home.
Friday, June 16, 2006Owen prepared to sit on the bench England striker Michael Owen accepts he could be left out of the starting line-up for the final World Cup group game against Sweden. The 26-year-old was substituted early in the second half after another below-par performance. He said "I'm not worried. If I'm sat on the bench, I'm sat on the bench. I've been on the bench in my career before. If the manager thinks it is the right thing, he'll do it. That's football." Owen, who missed the last five months of the Premiership season with a broken foot, came off after 55 minutes of the opening win over Paraguay. Against Trinidad and Tobago he lasted just three minutes longer as England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson opted to bring on Wayne Rooney to partner Peter Crouch up front. With Crouch getting on the scoresheet against Trinidad and Tobago and Wayne Rooney seemingly fully fit after his broken metatarsal, Owen's place in the side is under threat. He added: "We've got 23 players and if I'm on the bench then so be it." He added: "I've been training well and scoring goals in training. I've never shirked responsibility and if I'm given chances then I'm sure I'll score goals. I've only had one chance in the last two games, and one rebound that was blocked, and I kicked myself because I didn't score it. But I'm still a decent finisher, I won't lose that. I'm feeling fine and feel like I'm playing well. If it means bringing me off and putting Wayne on, as it was against Trinidad, then that's the manager's decision. I wouldn't say I've played the best two games of my career but I'm quite content. I'm not that type of player like Wayne Rooney who is always involved even when we are playing bad. My job is to get on the end of crosses." With England already through to the knock-out stages, Eriksson could opt to rest some of his first choice stars, although they still need a point against Sweden to win the group.
England 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard spared England's blushes with late goals against Trinidad & Tobago to book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup. Crouch, who had missed several chances, met David Beckham's right-wing cross to power a header past Shaka Hislop. Gerrard wrapped it up in stoppage time with a stunning left-foot drive after England made hard work of the contest. Wayne Rooney came on, but it was fellow subs Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing who helped turn the game England's way. It had looked like being a major embarrassment for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, with his team short on ideas and confidence. They created plenty of chances without ever being in total control of the match and can count themselves fortunate to have got out of jail. Yet it all seemed so different in the opening stages, as England played with an ease that suggested they were playing in a training game rather than a crucial World Cup contest. After Michael Owen miscued in front of goal, Crouch went close twice, first denied an attempt at a volley five yards out by Brent Sancho's timely intervention and then foiled by Hislop's claw away after Joe Cole's left-wing cross. But as so often with Eriksson's England, early promise soon turned into increasing frustration as passes were misplaced with alarming regularity. They were nearly made to pay for their laboured approach, as Paul Robinson uncharacteristically flapped at a corner only for Stern John to head wide at the far post. As the clock ticked towards half-time the England fans began to chant for Rooney's introduction with real fervour, not helped by a moment of calamity from Crouch. Spotted by Beckham standing in the penalty area eight yards out, with no-one anywhere near him, Crouch hoplessly caught the volley on his right shin and sent it several yards wide of Hislop's goal. His miss could have proved even more costly. Carlos Edwards beat Robinson to a cross and as John bundled the ball towards goal, John Terry typically managed to get back in time to clear the ball off the line. It was equally bad for the first 13 minutes of the second half, before the fans finally got their wish and Rooney was introduced, along with Lennon. The double change galvanised the side, but England continued to be sloppy in front of goal. Eriksson's stock 4-4-2 became 3-5-2 and Beckham and Lennon began to dovetail down the right - the captain crossing for the wasteful Crouch to head over, again unmarked. Lampard then had three chances in two minutes but could not convert any, scooping one over, hitting the next at Hislop and dragging the last one wide. But just when it seemed England's profligacy would cost them, Crouch popped up with the most important goal of his life. Putting the misses firmly behind him, England's giant hitman powerfully headed Beckham's cross into the roof of the net past Hislop. Having come so close Trinidad visibly wilted, and Gerrard took advantage with a brilliant left-foot screamer that flew in from the edge of the area.
Saturday, June 10, 2006England's campaign off to a winning start: England got their FIFA World Cup campaign off to a winning start in Frankfurt with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday, 11 June 2006. However, they did not have their own way against the South Americans, who gave Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men some nervous moments during the 90 minutes. The only goal of the game came in the fourth minute when David Beckham’s free-kick skimmed off the head of Carlos Gamarra and into the net. Paraguay pushed for an equaliser in the second half, but despite their best efforts, a goal was not forthcoming and must now turn their attentions to their next Group B game against Sweden in Berlin next Thursday. The match: 4’: England took an early lead, courtesy of an own goal by Carlos Gamarra. David Beckham curled in a free-kick from the left flank and the Paraguay captain inadvertently flicked the ball into the net with his head, beating the despairing dive of goalkeeper Justo Villar (1-0). 8’: Villar’s unhappy start to the tournament was compounded when he raced out to clear an England attack, but in kicking the ball away from Michael Owen he injured himself and Aldo Bobadilla came off the bench to replace him in goal. 10‘: Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, passed fit for the match after struggling with a hip injury in the build-up, tried his luck with a right-footed volley but the effort flashed over. 19‘: Cristian Riveros had a shot on target for Paraguay, but Robinson dived low to his left to smother it well. Gerrard picked up the game’s first yellow card for the challenge he made in trying to close Riveros down. 22‘: Lampard played a neat one-two with Crouch and forced Bobadilla into a save with a fierce drive. 43‘: After a relatively quiet passage of the game, Beckham tried to find his range from open play with a curling shot from 18 metres, but it flashed just past the post and out for a goal kick. 47+‘: Nelson Valdez had Paraguay’s best chance of the first half in stoppage time after picking up a loose ball inside the penalty area and firing in a right-foot shot, although he failed to hit the target. 53‘: The second half began at a much slower pace, with the heat in Frankfurt having taken its toll on the players. Roberto Acuna tried to catch the England defence off-guard with a quick free-kick for , but it rolled through to Robinson without troubling him at all. 58‘: Joe Cole brought Bobadilla into action with a low drive, but the Paraguayan was equal to it with a smart stop. 59‘: An anxious moment came for Robinson when he failed to gather Carlos Bonet’s cross at the first attempt. Paredes tried to hook the ball over the onrushing keeper but could not keep the ball down. 64‘: Valdez turned inside Gerrard and sent in a decent shot with his left foot, but the effort went straight into Robinson’s arms. The Tottenham keeper brought a collective smile to the crowd when his towering clearance bounced back off the giant video screen hanging over the centre circle in Frankfurt. 73‘: With England struggling to find the rhythm they managed in the early part of the game, Lampard injected some dynamism back into their play with a stinging attempt which brought the best out of Bobadilla, who palmed the ball over the bar. 88‘: Lampard once again tested Bobadilla with a powerful shot, but the Paraguay keeper denied him by tipping the ball round the post for a corner. In conclusion:England got the opening win they were looking for, but the performance in the second half was less than convincing. Paraguay can take heart from their battling display, though they had no reward for their efforts.
 Eriksson ready to begin Cup quest: Sven-Goran Eriksson says he is sending out the finest England team he has ever had on a mission to win the World Cup. The England coach exuded confidence as he placed total faith in his side ahead of the opener against Paraguay. He said: "This is the best England team I have ever had - no doubt about it at all. When you have a great team and a good group you can set the tempo. I believe we can win the World Cup and it's important we get a winning start because it's a message to other teams." Eriksson also explained why he took a tough line with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson over Wayne Rooney's fitness. Ferguson is believed to be furious that Eriksson is prepared to plunge Rooney into World Cup combat after recovering from a broken foot. But Eriksson said: "If we play a friendly I am not that worried if people withdraw some players. It is not the end of the world. But this might be the end of the world. This is the World Cup. This is important." Liverpool's Peter Crouch will deputise for Rooney - and Eriksson has no doubts he is ready for the ultimate football stage. The Swede said: "It will be completely different. You can't compare Crouch with Rooney, but he is ready for this - absolutely." And he is ready to place his trust in the players who are confident in their status as one of the pre-tournament favourites. Eriksson said: "Three points is the most important thing. But I want to see the team play good football as well, defend well, attack well, concentrate on set pieces which will be very important. "Once the game starts it is up to the players to remember all the preparation and talking and practicing we have done. It is up to the players. We have a fit team. We never had a fit team in Japan and never 100% in Portugal. This is a fit team." Eriksson, however, is not interested in an honour akin to the knighthood that came Sir Alf Ramsey's way after England's win in 1966. He said: "I have never thought about that and it is not a big thing. I hope to leave the job alive!"
Thursday, June 08, 2006 Rooney recovering, Gerrard concern England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told reporters on Thursday afternoon that Wayne Rooney is "injury-free" and now just needs to get match-fit before he can make his FIFA World Cup™ debut. Eriksson stated that the final decision on when the 20-year-old can play at Germany 2006 will be “Rooney’s and mine,” although Manchester United said in a statement last night that according to the expert independent medical view, he would not be fit until the round of 16. Following training, a decisive Eriksson told reporters: “The good news from yesterday evening and today is Rooney has no more injury. "He is injury-free and it is up to us now to get him match-fit and when we think he is match-fit I am prepared to take him to any specialist we or Manchester United want to take him to. I'm doing this in the best interests of Rooney, the England team and 40 million England fans. I'm prepared to listen to everyone and discuss Rooney, but the last say in this story is Rooney's and mine." Gerrard concern Meanwhile, doubts remain over Gerrard's chances of playing in Saturday’s opening match against Paraguay in Frankfurt. The Liverpool midfielder is battling to overcome a knock on his hip which caused him to suffer back spasms during training earlier in the week. Gerrard took some part in Thursday's session in Germany but rates his own chances of playing against the South Americans as 50-50. "It is not a back problem,” he said. “I got a knock on my hip which made my back go into spasms. The good thing is it is improving all the time. I have got a good chance of playing on Saturday but I need to keep working on it from now until Saturday. "What is a good chance? As we speak now, I am probably 50-50 to play - but if it keeps improving as it has done over the last 24 hours, then I'll be there."
Wednesday, June 07, 2006 1 ROBINSON Paul (GK) 2 NEVILLE Gary 3 COLE Ashley 4 GERRARD Steven 5 FERDINAND Rio 6 TERRY John 7 BECKHAM David 8 LAMPARD Frank 9 ROONEY Wayne 10 OWEN Michael 11 COLE Joe 12 CAMPBELL Sol 13 JAMES David (GK) 14 BRIDGE Wayne 15 CARRAGHER Jamie 16 HARGREAVES Owen 17 JENAS Jermaine 18 CARRICK Michael 19 LENNON Aaron 20 DOWNING Stewart 21 CROUCH Peter 22 CARSON Scott (GK) 23 WALCOTT Theo
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