COLOGNE, Germany - Joe Cole was shredding Sweden's defense so effortlessly he
had confident England fans singing "God Save the Queen" before halftime. Not so
fast. The Swedes have been flustering England for nearly 40 years now, and this
game would be no different.
Henrik Larsson scored off a throw-in, getting the slightest touch to deflect
the ball into the net in the 90th minute and salvage a 2-2 tie for the Swedes on
Tuesday night. England hasn't beaten Sweden since way back in 1968, a streak
that is now at 12 games.
Sweden's Marcus
Allback (20) scores his team's first goal as England's David Beckham (7)
puts in a challenge during their Group B World Cup 2006 soccer match in
Cologne June 20, 2006.[Reuters] |
"We scored two fantastic goals and it's a little bit annoying that we concede
two goals, one from a corner, one from a long throw-in," England coach
Sven-Goran Eriksson said. "Even though the Swedes are very strong, we are also a
tall, strong team and we should defend better."
There is one big bright spot for England, though. It still won Group B, which
means it gets Ecuador and an extra day of rest for the second round, playing
Sunday in Stuttgart.
And Sweden, as the runner-up, will have to play three-time champion and World
Cup host Germany in Munich in the second round Saturday.
"The most important thing is that we won the group," Eriksson said. "We have
been talking about that since we came to Germany. That was the big target."
Cole scored on a brilliant 30-yard shot in the 34th minute, and then set up
Steven Gerrard's go-ahead goal in the 85th for England. But the English couldn't
put away the Swedes, a problem that has lasted nearly four decades.
Marcus Allback had tied it 1-1 for the Swedes on a header in the 51st minute.
"We were the better team in the second half and created some really good
scoring chances," Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said.
Sweden is 4-0-8 in the streak against England, with four of the matches
coming while Eriksson — a Swede — has coached England.
Though England arrived in Cologne with an eight-game winning streak, it
hadn't played anywhere close to its best in Germany. But it seemed to get a
spark from Wayne Rooney's return to the starting lineup and Cole's dazzling
play, showing a confidence and authority it's lacked so far.
Even losing Michael Owen in the fourth minute to a nasty-looking right knee
injury didn't seem to throw them. Owen, who only recently recovered from a
broken foot, was carried off the field on a stretcher and will be examined
Wednesday.
"We're all feeling for Michael at the moment," captain David Beckham said.
"As a team we've done what we wanted but to lose Michael, I think is devastating
for every one of us and the team."
Asked if Owen might miss the rest of the tournament, Eriksson said, "Maybe,
we don't know yet."
