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.
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 most now turn their attentions to their next Group B game against Sweden in Berlin on Thursday.
drunken_master
Rooney may play against T&T, hints Eriksson
Sven-Goran Eriksson is 'optimistic' Wayne Rooney could play some part for England against Trinidad and Tobago.
Eriksson will not rule out the idea of Rooney returning against the Caribbean minnows in Nuremberg on Thursday.
Asked whether Rooney would appear, the England boss said: 'I'm very optimistic, always. I'm born like that.
'We have to decide that day by day, to be honest.'
Rooney, 20, returned to full training last Thursday after a foot scan showed his broken metatarsal bone was healed.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be furious if his striker does make his World Cup debut against Trinidad and Tobago.
Ferguson wanted Eriksson to keep Rooney wrapped in cotton wool until the knock-out stages of the World Cup but the pair did not agree.
Instead, Eriksson said Rooney would play as soon as he was 'match-fit'.
The England boss promised to invite an independent expert to look at Rooney's fitness before he played.
This was in an attempt to placate Ferguson and prove he was not taking an undue risk with the player's long-term fitness, but it is unlikely to soothe United's fury.
Rooney trained today, along with the other England players not heavily involved in yesterday's 1-0 win against Paraguay.
Rio Ferdinand said his United and England team-mate Rooney was 'desperate' to play in the World Cup.
England fans are clearly impatient to see him back on the pitch.
Supporters chanted Rooney's name during the second half of the Paraguay game but Eriksson will not be influenced by their calls.
The England boss said: 'It can't have an effect on me. I have my coaches, my fitness coach and my physios and we have decide together: 'Okay it's time'.'
England's winning start to their World Cup campaign eased the pressure on Eriksson to rush Rooney back into action.
drunken_master
England fans made their way south from Frankfurt on Wednesday, heading to their team's Group B match against Trinidad and Tobago.
German and British police said that there were few arrests and that the relaxed atmosphere that pervaded Frankfurt over the weekend was in full force in Nuremberg, too.
Police said that seven people were arrested in the night, including six who tried to scale the fence that wraps around Franken stadium, the site of Thursday's game. They were later released without any charges. Another person, however, remained in custody after being accused of assault.
Many fans already in the city said they were excited about the prospect of Wayne Rooney being given the nod to play.
"Hopefully, we will get to see Mr Rooney tomorrow," Craig Studley, 24, told Britain's Press Association. "It would be great to see him come on as substitute."
drunken_master
Wayne Rooney could make an appearance as a substitute against Trinidad & Tobago, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said on Wednesday.
"For me Rooney is match fit, let me sleep on it," said Eriksson after his side's final training session on Wednesday at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg. "I will decide tomorrow (Thursday) morning."
Eriksson said the 20-year-old Manchester United striker definitely won't start the match but come on at a later stage.
drunken_master
Trinidad and Tobago's 23 footballers and their Dutch coach, Leo Beenhakker, have each been promised a barrel of specially-aged rum if they win their World Cup match against England on Thursday.
Nigel Bissoon, marketing manager of the Angostura group of companies, said the players were already heroes in their Caribbean country after their 0-0 draw against Sweden last week.
Bissoon said: "But they can elevate themselves to a god-like status among their fans if they get one over England.
"We hope the barrel bonus will act as an extra incentive for the players as there are few Trinidadians who would not jump at the opportunity to own a full barrel of such fine rum."
Each of the 24 barrels the company is offering as a prize holds 247 litres of rum.
Trinidad and Tobago is the smallest country to qualify for the World Cup.
drunken_master
Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard netted late goals to spare England’s blushes as they beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 to reach the knockout stages at the 2006 World Cup finals.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men had been frustrated by the stubborn Soca Warriors in Nurnberg, leading the England boss to give Wayne Rooney his World Cup debut as a 58th-minute substitute.
England looked more fluent with Rooney on the pitch, but it was Crouch who rose to head home David Beckham's cross with seven minutes remaining.
Gerrard then found the top corner in injury-time to wrap up another unconvincing victory.
As expected, Jamie Carragher replaced injured right-back Gary Neville in the only change from England's win against Paraguay, and it was the Liverpool defender who had the first effort on goal, although his second-minute shot lacked power.
England looked in control of the game and should have taken the lead after six minutes when Frank Lampard’s effort swerved in the air and was parried by Shaka Hislop, with Michael Owen only managing to knee the rebound wide.
Trinidad looked less threatening in possession, with Aurtis Whitley having a tame effort which Paul Robinson fielded comfortably in the 13th minute.
Liverpool striker Crouch had already been within a whisker of connecting with a Rio Ferdinand cushioned header, then after 16 minutes he volleyed into the ground from Joe Cole’s cross and Hislop clawed the ball wide.
The underdogs had Densill Theobald and Whitley booked in quick succession for fouls on the edge of the area but England skipper Beckham failed to create anything from the free-kicks.
Lampard had another effort from long distance drift just wide before Trinidad nearly shocked England in the 36th minute when Stern John almost headed in from Dwight Yorke’s short corner.
Coventry striker John also had an effort superbly cleared off the line by John Terry in first-half stoppage-time as Trinidad sensed they could possibly upset the odds.
England finished the first half strongly, though, and Lampard volleyed over from Owen’s cross, while Crouch mustered an ugly volley when he was found in space by Beckham.
Trinidad continued to frustrate England after the break, while Hislop was booked for time wasting at a goal-kick.
Crouch volleyed over after flicking up the ball and Owen headed wide from a Beckham free-kick, and it was the Newcastle striker’s last contribution before he was taken off for Rooney in the 58th minute. Aaron Lennon was also brought on for Carragher.
England looked more urgent playing in a new formation with three in defence, although Lampard was booked for a trip on Brent Sancho.
Crouch headed an effort over in the 70th minute, while Lennon unsuccessfully claimed Yorke had handled one of his crosses four minutes later. Lampard had an effort sail over the bar from the corner and the Chelsea midfielder also had a clearer opportunity saved. Lampard then fired an effort wide.
Just when Trinidad scented an upset, Beckham received the ball from Lennon on the right and crossed for Crouch to bury a header.
Gerrard added garnish by firing into the top corner from 25 yards in stoppage time with his left foot.
Stern John then had a goal disallowed as it finished 2-0.
drunken_master
Freddie Ljungberg's 88th-minute header earned Sweden a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Berlin on Thursday.
Ljungberg's strike leaves the Scandinavians strongly positioned to take second place in Group B, three points above Trinidad and Tobago going into their game against leaders England.
For Paraguay, however, the late goal spelt heartbreak, ending their hopes of progressing to the second round.
After a performance not dissimilar to that in their opening game, Sweden conjured up their first goal at these finals to secure their first win.
While they are now clear favourites to join England in the second round, Paraguay, who again defended bravely without really looking threatening in attack, will make an early exit after their final match against Trinidad and Tobago.
drunken_master
England will face Ecuador on Sunday in the last 16 of the World Cup after topping Group B courtesy of a tense and largely unconvincing 2-2 stalemate against Sweden in Cologne.
Sven Goran Eriksson's underperformers proved the old adage that 'it's a game of two halves' is sometimes more than a cliche, as in the first period they deservedly led through a stupendous Joe Cole volley but in the second they threatened complete capitulation before having to settle for a point they barely deserved.
The second 45 minutes were nothing short of embarrassing at times, as Marcus Allback grabbed Sweden a leveller just moments after the restart when England lost him at a corner.
It was to be a familiar tale as Sweden twice struck Paul Robinson's crossbar before Steven Gerrard powered Joe Cole's cross past Andreas Isaksson for looked to a winner with just five minutes left.
It was, though, not to be the last action as in the final minute some Keystone Cops defending from a Sweden long throw gave Olof Mellberg opportunity to grab a comical, for the rest of the world at least, leveller.
From the onset - at least in the first half - England, buoyed by Wayne Rooney's bullish presence, tried to create a tempo to their game that belied tepid previous exertions.
All that is except the unfortunate Michael Owen, who given a third and one suspects final chance to impress in Germany, was left crumpled in a heap after only a minute.
The Newcastle man seemed to catch his studs in the turf and the anguish on his face told a thousand stories, with Peter Crouch readied from the bench as a suspected knee injury required a stretcher.
Rid of the defensive shackles that goes hand in hand with any partnership with Gerrard, a free running Frank Lampard was in his element and within the opening two minutes hand fired in two testers, the first a thunderbolt from the distance, the second a misdirected header after Rooney's infectious enthusiasm had won the ball back and then fed him in.
Sweden in response provided the odd moment of consternation as Paul Robinson needed a strong punch to repel a setpiece, before an advanced Teddy Lucic forced Lampard into inadvertent block when up from a corner.
Still it would be churlish not to praise England for their desire to actually get the ball down and play and in Cole they had the half's best performer.
On 20 minutes the Chelsea man fired a yard over after cutting inside from the left flank and it was from his cross that Crouch got caught in two minds when pulling his header across rather than going for goal when free at the far post.
Sweden failed to heed Cole's warning and just short of the half hour mark he punished them with the truest of strikes. Niclas Alexandersson's header seemed to have cleared Sweden's ranks but taking the ball on his chest thirty yards from goal, Cole then unleashed a looping angled volley that dipped over Andreas Isaksson - who could do nothing to keep it out despite getting a hand to the ball.
Thereafter and English appetites were whetted as Rooney's sumptuous touch evaded Mellberg but not Lucic who denied him a strike at goal. Chelsea team-mates Cole and Lampard were linking for country as they do for club as twice the latter had efforts at goal as England pressed for a second.
Neither were dispatched with the customary aplomb expected and as if to warn against complacency in England's defence Freddie Ljungberg made a sprightly run inside, but Rio Ferdinand's tackle was immaculate as the half drew to its close.
If the first period bristled with promise the second half was little short of shambolic as time after time England were exposed from Sweden setpieces.
Allback's leveller predictably came from a corner, with Sweden also hitting the bar twice as Eriksson's side crumbled under waves of yellow pressure.
When the goal arrived, the 2000th in World Cup history, it was former Aston Villa misfit Allback that reeked revenge on the English, when he sneaked in front of David Beckham to steer his header over Robinson and Ashley Cole at the far post.
England were not being undone by South American dazzling feet or continental flicks, but rather the type of crosses into the box that are the type of staple of any Premiership game.
Just minutes after Allback's goal and Larsson stooped low to direct a header goalwards that flicked off Jamie Carragher and then, somewhat fortuitously, the crossbar.
In the 55th minute and England's night of ups and far too many downs took another turn for the worse as Rio Ferdinand limped off to be replaced by Sol Campbell.
Sweden smelt top spot and not a little fear from their compatriot on England's bench, as yet again another setpiece exposed a static backline. Lucic headed the ball back across England's box and on the half volley defensive partner Mellberg clipped the bar from the penalty spot.
On a rare forward foray Crouch had a header that drifted wide but it was Sweden that went closest when England had Gerrard to thank for repelling Kim Kallstrom's drive from the edge of the box off his own goal-line.
They were even more thankful five minutes from time when Cole's fine cross from left to right found the advanced Liverpool man at the far post and his header was bulleted past Isaksson.
Had England won maximum spoils then they would have had to start the next game in a change kit of black and white stripes, so at least they are saved this embarrassment, as miserable defending from Campbell allowed a combination of Larsson and Mellberg to hand Sweden a point on a night that raised more questions than answers.
drunken_master
Paraguay recorded a 2-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago to finish third in Group B.
The Soca Warriors still had an outside chance of qualifying for the second round at kick-off and, needing to win, they started with far more attacking intent than they had shown in either of their first two games.
However, Paraguay were also desperate to give their supporters something to cheer about before they went home following two disappointing performances.
T&T goalkeeper Kelvin Jack was called into action within the first couple of minutes, leaping to his left to deny Roque Santa Cruz after he had cleverly flicked on Edgar Baretto's free kick.
In a virtual mirror image Paraguay goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla produced a superb save at the other end to keep out Cornell Glen, who had connected well with Dwight Yorke's inswinging delivery.
With nothing to lose the South Americans played in a refreshingly free flowing manner but struggled to provide the quality needed in front of goal until they were given a helping hand by opposing defender Brent Sancho on 25 minutes.
A dangerous free kick from Roberta Acuna was headed on by Julio Dos Santos, sparking panic in the T&T box.
Sancho climbed high in an attempt to head the ball away but he could not control the direction of his clearance and unfortunately turned it into his own net.
In a bold early substitution Kenwyne Jones was brought on for Avery John but the tactical move did not have the desired effect, as Paraguay, buoyed by the goal, took complete control.
Jack once again proved that he was a capable stand-in for Shaka Hislop with a fearless save from Nelson Valdez, but moments later he was indebted to the referee's assistant after Denis Caniza's shot squirmed past him at his near post.
It looked as if Caniza's goal had stood but after an outrageously long wait the flag went up. It may have been a late decision but it was a correct one.
On the stroke of half time Jack kept T&T in it once again, acrobatically diving to his right to tip Valdez's firm header round the post.
Leo Beenhakker's side lost Glen with a nasty-looking injury but did not let their heads drop as they began the second half much more strongly.
They almost scored a wonderful goal moments after the resumption when Jones embarked on an inspired dribble before laying a pass to Carlos Edwards, but his cross was just too hard for Stern John.
Paraguay briefly seemed rattled by The Soca Warriors' high tempo, but they quickly regained their composure and their organised back line mostly restricted T&T to shots from distance and hopeful long balls.
On the break Paraguay also looked threatening, and came close to doubling their advantage when Carlos Paredes stung the palms of Jack, whose overall save count was nearing double figures.
In a pulsating last 20 minutes T&T upped the ante further in their quest for a World Cup goal, with substitute Russell Latapy lashing narrowly wide from outside the area.
Their ambition left them exposed at the back though, and any lingering hopes of getting back into the game were killed off when Nelson Cuevas scored a fine second goal for Paraguay (86), coolly slotting home after a neat one-two with Santa Cruz.
