Day: June 15, 2006

Sweden waited until the 89th minute to finally break the ice and score their first goal of the World Cup. Luckily for them, that was all they needed to get past Paraguay 1-0.

The Swedes have looked like they were about to score constantly for two matches now, but had to wait 179 minutes before they finally managed it. A Freddie Ljungberg header eventually found the back of the net and Sweden was able to breathe again.

Their offense is too potent to have those sorts of problems for long. England may be in for a goal-fest when they meet next week, even though all either team really needs is a draw.

England became the third team to advance out of the group stage with a with a nailbiting win over Trinidad and Tobago 2-0.

It was closer than that.

England, looking like they couldn’t finish if their life depended on it–and it nearly did, looked like they were going to be held until Beckham finally hit Crouch with a great cross that he finally got into the net. Until that moment, Crouch didn’t just look bad, he was horrible. I couldn’t understand what he was doing on the pitch–nor, apparently did he. At least he had the good sense not to do that robot rubbish afterwards.

England showed no spark whatsoever until Rooney, Downing and especially Lennon came on late to open up some space. Up until England scored, the play of the game was John Terry’s clearance off the line in the first half that nearly put the minnows in the lead. Frank Lampard was at least taking shots–mostly feeble balloons, but shots none the less. No one else on the team was doing much of anything. Gerrard was invisible until he poked in the second, nearly at the whistle.

The English criticism of Ericksson is starting to look on the money. This cool and calm team has no sense of urgency and are soon to find themselves in much hotter water.

Other than picking up the three points, England also was able to give Rooney a run out. Broken foot and all, he came on and was hustling all over the pitch.

So England are through, but they certainly have a lot to work on.

Lowly Ecuador, the team that wasn’t expected to be able to compete at sea level, has bounced Poland and Costa Rica out of the World Cup. Costa Rica didn’t seem to comprehend what exactly was at stake in the match as they were soundly thrashed 3-0.

What it also means is that a draw in the last match of the Group won’t be good enough for Germany to take the top spot. England will probably be in the unusual position of praying for a German win against Ecuador.

That won’t be a problem.

Ecuador will be very pleased at being able to take advantage of the Poland slip, while playing over their heads themselves for two matches, to get themselves out of the group stage.

Whatever else happens, this team will surely be considered the weakest in the next round.