Football World Cup Diary
Victory for England over Sweden still proves elusive as Sven’s men draw 2-2 with Lars Lagerback’s side in Cologne.
The result gives England the Group B leadership going into the knockout phase of the tournament, but comes at a particularly heavy price. Barely a minute has passed when Michael Owen breaks down near the touchline without a Swedish player anywhere in the vicinity. Post-game chat about scans and waiting and seeing hardly masks the likelihood that Owen will not return for the duration of Germany 2006.
If the prognosis on Owen is dire, the introduction of Peter Crouch in his absence represents yet more terror for England fans. On a booking from an earlier game, Crouch has to get through 89 minutes or more without getting himself suspended, thus reducing England’s striking options to a half-fit megastar and a young boy who seems to have bunked onto the plane without anyone noticing.
Crouch achieves this aim without any real alarm, but his actual contribution to the game is limited. Joe Cole is easily England’s best player, and as if to cement this fact rattles in an audacious volley to give his side the lead on 34 minutes. Six minutes after half-time that revered defender David Beckham is somehow left marking Swedish striker Marcus Allback who sends a deft header in past the despairing and frankly over-dramatic efforts of Ashley Cole on the line.
A tiring Wayne Rooney is then withdrawn for the previously rested Steven Gerrard, and it is the Liverpool man who again pops up to head England into what looks like a winning lead five minutes before time. However, more shambolic defending sees John Terry completely miss a long throw, an error compounded by Sol Campbell’s aimless hack which allows Henrik Larsson to steal a point at the death;
“We did not defend very well against set-pieces - we have to work on that before the next game.” says Sven, stating the bleeding obvious.
Unimpressed with his team’s first half display, Lagerback is more positive about the action after the break;
“It was better in the second half. We almost deserved three points. We were the better team in the second half.” he claims.
Sweden’s draw is enough to take them through to the second round, but they would have been there anyway thanks to Trinidad and Tobago’s inability to beat Paraguay in Kaiserslautern. The South Americans win 2-0 thanks to a Brent Sancho own goal on 25 minutes and Nelson Cuevas’ 86th minute goal;
“This victory doesn't mean much in the way of this World Cup, but it does give the young players, who are our future, something to build on.” suggests an optimistic Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz;
“This has been a great experience. In future maybe our players will show a bit more confidence.” comments Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker, whose side finish bottom of Group B as a result of their loss.
England face Ecuador in the last 16 in Stuttgart on Sunday (June 25) after Luis Suarez’s side are soundly whipped 3-0 by Germany in Berlin. The Germans take Group A honours to set up a meeting with Sweden in Munich on Saturday (June 24) with a brace from the tournament’s leading scorer Miroslav Klose and a third from Lucas Podolski;
“We need to improve if we want to go any further in this World Cup.” concedes Suarez, though he is speaking some hours before watching John Terry and Sol Campbell defend throw-ins;
“The team know if we play to our full potential we need fear no one, but we must keep our feet on the ground.” warns German boss Jurgen Klinsmann.
Group A wooden spoonists are Costa Rica after they go down 2-1 to fellow also-rans Poland in Hanover. Ronald Gomez fires in a 24th minute free-kick for Los Ticos but a brace by Bartosz Bosacki gives the Poles all three points;
“It would have been a pity to go home without any points or goals.” says a slightly relieved Polish coach Pawel Janas, before turning his attentions to his future;
“I have not thought about resigning and I am not going to decide right now.”
Costa Rica boss Alexandre Guimaraes feels his side could have done better in all three of their Group A games;
“We paid dearly for our distractions. They cost us in all three matches.” he laments.
By Stephen Orford
21 June 2006
The result gives England the Group B leadership going into the knockout phase of the tournament, but comes at a particularly heavy price. Barely a minute has passed when Michael Owen breaks down near the touchline without a Swedish player anywhere in the vicinity. Post-game chat about scans and waiting and seeing hardly masks the likelihood that Owen will not return for the duration of Germany 2006.
If the prognosis on Owen is dire, the introduction of Peter Crouch in his absence represents yet more terror for England fans. On a booking from an earlier game, Crouch has to get through 89 minutes or more without getting himself suspended, thus reducing England’s striking options to a half-fit megastar and a young boy who seems to have bunked onto the plane without anyone noticing.
Crouch achieves this aim without any real alarm, but his actual contribution to the game is limited. Joe Cole is easily England’s best player, and as if to cement this fact rattles in an audacious volley to give his side the lead on 34 minutes. Six minutes after half-time that revered defender David Beckham is somehow left marking Swedish striker Marcus Allback who sends a deft header in past the despairing and frankly over-dramatic efforts of Ashley Cole on the line.
A tiring Wayne Rooney is then withdrawn for the previously rested Steven Gerrard, and it is the Liverpool man who again pops up to head England into what looks like a winning lead five minutes before time. However, more shambolic defending sees John Terry completely miss a long throw, an error compounded by Sol Campbell’s aimless hack which allows Henrik Larsson to steal a point at the death;
“We did not defend very well against set-pieces - we have to work on that before the next game.” says Sven, stating the bleeding obvious.
Unimpressed with his team’s first half display, Lagerback is more positive about the action after the break;
“It was better in the second half. We almost deserved three points. We were the better team in the second half.” he claims.
Sweden’s draw is enough to take them through to the second round, but they would have been there anyway thanks to Trinidad and Tobago’s inability to beat Paraguay in Kaiserslautern. The South Americans win 2-0 thanks to a Brent Sancho own goal on 25 minutes and Nelson Cuevas’ 86th minute goal;
“This victory doesn't mean much in the way of this World Cup, but it does give the young players, who are our future, something to build on.” suggests an optimistic Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz;
“This has been a great experience. In future maybe our players will show a bit more confidence.” comments Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker, whose side finish bottom of Group B as a result of their loss.
England face Ecuador in the last 16 in Stuttgart on Sunday (June 25) after Luis Suarez’s side are soundly whipped 3-0 by Germany in Berlin. The Germans take Group A honours to set up a meeting with Sweden in Munich on Saturday (June 24) with a brace from the tournament’s leading scorer Miroslav Klose and a third from Lucas Podolski;
“We need to improve if we want to go any further in this World Cup.” concedes Suarez, though he is speaking some hours before watching John Terry and Sol Campbell defend throw-ins;
“The team know if we play to our full potential we need fear no one, but we must keep our feet on the ground.” warns German boss Jurgen Klinsmann.
Group A wooden spoonists are Costa Rica after they go down 2-1 to fellow also-rans Poland in Hanover. Ronald Gomez fires in a 24th minute free-kick for Los Ticos but a brace by Bartosz Bosacki gives the Poles all three points;
“It would have been a pity to go home without any points or goals.” says a slightly relieved Polish coach Pawel Janas, before turning his attentions to his future;
“I have not thought about resigning and I am not going to decide right now.”
Costa Rica boss Alexandre Guimaraes feels his side could have done better in all three of their Group A games;
“We paid dearly for our distractions. They cost us in all three matches.” he laments.
By Stephen Orford
21 June 2006
posted by worldnews at 6:10 AM
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