SPORT

- reported by Osiris.


GROUP B : ENGLAND, PARAGUAY, SWEDEN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

Results of first matches played:

England 1 - 0 Paraguay

Sweden 0 - 0 Trinidad & Tobago

One should be forgiven if he predicts thrashing scores in both matches, because that was the prediction by critics and the bookies as well. However, the results which came in were truly disappointing, especially for Sweden when they should have won their match easily.

England, who were without talented striker Wayne Rooney, had Michael Owen partnering Peter Crouch up front. Still, their midfield was a potent weapon with Joe Cole on the left wing, Gerrard and Lampard in the centre and David Beckham on the right. In the early minutes of the game England were already pressing Paraguay. Joe Cole was fouled by Paraguay's skipper Carlos Gamarra in the 3rd minute and David Beckham swung a beautiful free-kick which was headed into the net by Gamarra as he tried to prevent Michael Owen from reaching the ball.

It was a miserable start for Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar and it got worse for him when he dashed out to halt a break from Michael Owen. He cleared the ball but twisted his leg and limped off in tears just after 8 minutes. Substitute keeper Aldo Bobadilla started nervously and he commited the mistake of pumping the ball instead of laying it on the ground for a goalkick after the ball had been played out. The Paraguayan defence was in disarray as well.

England did not perform as bright in the second half. Crouch was constantly cautioned by the referee for pushing the opponents while jumping up to head the ball. He received a booking in the 63 minute and was even cautioned when he was the one who had been fouled. Michael Owen was substituted by Stewart Downing, apparently as a precaution since the striker was still short of match fitness. Paraguay, sensing that England was dropping back, started to play better but their scoring attempts were all wasted crosses. England was no better and Crouch was not able to get the balls crossed to him. Eriksson should have replaced Crouch with 17-year-old Theo Walcott but the manager later justified his decision by saying that he did not want to play the teenager so early in the competition.

So in the end, an own-goal in the 3rd minute was all that England could manage but they still got the vital 3 points.

Sweden, who were expected to give T&T a good thrashing, were instead humbled when they held to a goal-less draw, even when T&T had A. John sent off early in the second half. Substitute keeper Hislop was the hero of the match as he made a couple of brilliant saves to deny Sweden the 3 points they needed. He had come in as a replacement for Kelvin Jack who had suffered a head injury just before the match.

Would T&T frustrate the 3 Lions as well? If they strengthen their defence they could probably hold England to another draw as well, since Sven Goran Eriksson now has a striker problem, which has been proven by the fact that Joe Cole is now appointed the fifth striker for England.

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