Shaky England win
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ByEurosport
Published 10/06/2006 at 13:50 GMT
England got their Group B campaign off to a winning start, but failed to impress in a 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday. A vicious David Beckham free-kick flicked off the head of opposition captain Carlos Gamarra to give Sven-Goran Eriksson's side a dream
FOOTBALL England Paraguay, FIFA World Cup, WM 2006
Image credit: dpa
But after the gung-ho optimism of Eriksson in the countdown to the tournament, this 90 minutes proved a Swedish leopard does not change its spots.
After a bright first half - with Peter Crouch and Michael Owen linking effectively up front - Eriksson's men struggled in the heat, especially after the enigmatic substitution of Owen just ten minutes into the second half.
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FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup England-Paraguay Acuña Gamarra Crouch
Image credit: EFE
With Wayne Rooney rooted to the bench, the Newcastle man traipsed off to be replaced by Stewart Downing leaving Crouch a solitary figure up front and the 'gambled-on' Theo Walcott wondering just what exactly he was doing there.
RARE WIN
But why was Owen going off? A lack of match fitness? A knock?
"I thought we had a few problems keeping the ball so I tried to bring in a player who could link the play a little bit and play five in midfield," said Eriksson bizarrely.
"I think we lost the rhythm, we started the second half poorly. We had problems keeping the ball, but nevermind, we got the three points."
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FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup England-Paraguay Owen
Image credit: dpa
Indeed, the massed ranks of England fans were able to celebrate a rare win in an opening group game and it started so well for them.
Beckham - again a high-tempo influence on his side - produced a trademark set-piece delivery into the box - the pace of the ball sowing panic, and a deft flick off Gamarra's head was too much for keeper Justo Villar.
And Paraguay were dealt another blow as Villar limped off after only eight minutes to be replaced by stand-in Aldo Bobadilla.
But despite a sprightly Joe Cole, England failed to capitalise on their territorial domination.
RETREATING
And had the sparky Nelson Valdez taken full advantage of a glorious chance in first-half injury time, England and Eriksson would have looked much less clever.
Valdez linked only fleetingly with fellow Bundesliga exile Roque Santa Cruz, but the Werder Bremen livewire should have pulled his side level after Ashley Cole's slip had allowed Carlos Bonet to angle a ball into the box.
Carlos Paredes also failed to punish a rare Paul Robinson flap, but the Spurs keeper was called into action infrequently by a South American side who were made to look dangerous by a retreating England side.
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FOOTBALL England, Paraguay, FIFA World Cup 2006, WM Steven Gerrard Carlos Paredes
Image credit: dpa
Paraguay boss Anibal Ruiz thought his side matched England in the second half due to their aptitude towards dealing with the heat:
"I think the hot weather was more of a problem for them and we were better physically than them in the second half," he said.
"We controlled a team who could reach the final.
"In the second half we controlled (midfielder Steven) Gerrard.
"The result was not good, but in general our performance was fair. We now have to look forward and I believe we can get results in the next two games."
England captain David Beckham also felt the conditions had a part to play in the lacklustre second half performance:
"You don't realise how hot it was out there," said England captain David Beckham. "We know we can get better but we got what we wanted."
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FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup England-Paraguay - Beckham and Cole
Image credit: Reuters
Frank Lampard did manage to force Bobadilla into a pair of fine saves with long-range strikes, but despite pre-tournament claims the squad were in best-ever physical condition, the Chelsea man agreed with his captain that the 30°C heat sucked life out of English limbs.
"We tried to stay strong, but the heat took it out of us," said Lampard. "But we got the three points and that is the all-important thing. Once the dust settles, we'll look back and realise what a good result that was.
"But there are no excuses. We can work on things and get better. We don't want to start at our peak, but work up to it."
Man of the Match: Peter Crouch (England)
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