The 2006 World Cup in Germany
A booksmusicfilmstv.com surreal take on the footie fest in Germany
Reports on all England's games: England 1 Paraguay 0 England 2 Trinidad & Tobago 0 England 2 Sweden 2 Ecuador 0 England 1 England 0 Portugal 0 Portugal win 3-1 on pens.
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A dramatic game saw England lose Michael Owen for the tournament, Wayne Rooney's first start for England since THAT injury, a wonder goal from Joe Cole, Sweden nearly scoring five in the second half, England's eight game winning run halted, and England still unable to beat the boys from Sven's homeland since 1968.

Things began badly for England, when, with only a minute gone, Michael Owen collapsed in agony with no-one around him. It soon became apparent that the Newcastle striker had a serious knee injury, and so these World Cup finals has lost its biggest name so far.

The game itself got off to a slow start, though Wayne Rooney was looking England's best attacking threat, with intelligent and determined runs, needing excellent Swedish defending to deny him. Frank Lampard had several early attempts at goal, but sometimes the Chelsea man would be better advised to look for team-mates. Sweden offered little going forward in the first half, which was lit up by Joe Cole's goal, from, and the BBC have measured it, 38 yards. It could be England's best goal since the John Barnes effort in Brazil over 20 years ago. Cole nonchalantly flicked the ball up and sent in a dipping right foot volley, which Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson touched onto a post, before it ended up in the top right hand corner of the net. England came close to adding a second, when a fierce Frank Lampard drive just cleared the crossbar.

With Wayne Rooney understandably fading, and Rio Ferdinand carrying an injury, before being substituted by Sol Campbell, Sweden tore into England early in the second half, and caused them a problem with nearly all their corners, especially from the ones taken on the left hand side by Tobias Linderoth. After Sweden had previously posed little threat, it was from a Linderoth corner that Marcus Allback deftly headed the Swedes level (which was the 2,000th goal scored in the World Cup finals). From another corner, Henrik Larsson's header was deflected by Jamie Carragher's arm, and brilliant reactions by 'keeper Paul Robinson, onto the bar. Not long after, another Linderoth corner saw Olof Mellberg hook the ball onto the bar, and yet another Swedish corner saw Kim Kallstrom's shot kicked off the line by substitute Steven Gerrard. An unhappy Wayne Rooney had been replaced by the Liverpool skipper, and, incredibly, he put England ahead late in the game. Joe Cole intelligently stood up a cross, for Gerrard to get in a well placed header. The Swedes would not be denied, however, and in the last minute a long throw by Erik Edman evaded everyone, but the predatory Larsson, who skilfully just managed to touch home.

So, England avoid the Germans, which on this performance is just as well. You can imagine future opponents whipping balls into the England penalty area knowing that there's a serious fragility there. With Owen gone, and Rooney still needing to regain his sharpness, England's chances of World Cup glory are ebbing away. Ecuador are not the stiffest opponents to face in the last 16, but you fear for England when they have to come up against better sides. Sweden must be kicking themselves, because they should have won this game, and now they face an in-form Germany.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.