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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