On Tuesday, England's game against Sweden was a game of ups and downs and with Wayne Rooney starting, the England team and the English fans were very confident as the strong England team got underway to face Sven Goran Eriksson's home nation in the city of Cologne.

As England started they were on the attack and inside the first minute Michael Owen passed the ball away and while he passed the ball he fell and twisted his right knee badly. Clearly he was in extreme pain and while he was on the floor he crawled off the pitch in agony, put on a stretcher and carried in to the changing room. After there was a conference saying that he will be out for five months and that he will be returning to England and will be treated by the medical staff at Newcastle United. England now faced the rest of the World Cup with Wayne Rooney who has just recovered from a broken foot, Peter Crouch and Theo Walcott who hasn't even played in the premiership!

After Michael Owen left the pitch Peter Crouch came on to take his place and England were looking strong and looked like they were going to score. Then in the 34th minute England were on the attack then the ball came to Joe Cole who was outside the box and the ball came to him in the air. He controlled it with his chest and volleyed the ball and it flew threw the air and their keeper couldn't reach it and it hit the far post and hit the back of the net. A superb goal that will certainly be a contender for goal of the tournament.

After that Sweden were hitting the target a few times and in the second half Sweden were beginning to look strong and looked like they were going to score. With some poor defending England gave away another corner and Sweden scored the equalizer from it.

After that both sides had chances and with Frank Lampard once again having a few shots but again not able to get it past the Swedish keeper. Later on in the game Sven Goran Eriksson made a change with Rio Ferdinand coming off and replaced by Sol Campbell who has not yet played in this World Cup also in the 68th minute, Wayne Rooney was substituted for the reliable Steven Gerrard. Clearly Wayne was not very happy with the substitution and ended up throwing his boots to the ground and punching the dug out in anger. Sweden were once again looking strong and hitting the crossbar but then at the other end Joe Cole put a cross into the back post and Steven Gerrard once again scored again in the last few minutes with a header saving England from an unacceptable draw and proving that he is one of the best attacking midfielders in the World.

In the late stages of the game England defence started to look sloppy despite a generally effective effort on the part of Sol Campbell. In the dying moments of the game England conceded a throw in where the Swedes put a ball in to the edge of the six yard box and very poor defending from the English side including an unusual missed header from John Terry which let Henrik Larsson tap the ball in to earn Sweden a draw. Once again England conceded a goal through a lack of defending and were giving us all concerns about a part of their game which is usually faultless.

England fans were disappointed with the last part of the match and thought that England should have won the game thereby achieving a long awaited victory over the Swedish Team. Nevertheless, England have still finished top of the group and will face Ecuador in the knockout stages on Sunday the 25th in Stuttgart where they will be supported by millions of fans in Germany and back in the United Kingdom were many fans will be watching the game on big screens and in lots of pubs and homes all over the country.

So again, good luck England in the knockout stages.

Sam's next comment - Ecuador 25th June 06

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