Rooney expected to start for England

18 June 2006

by FIFAworldcup.com

 

 

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has suggested he may rest some players on yellow cards for their final Group B game against Sweden on Tuesday - when Wayne Rooney is expected to start.

 

With England already safely through to the Round of 16 after two wins from two games, Eriksson has hinted that a combination of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch could miss the Sweden match.

 

They are all one booking away from suspension and while a second yellow card on Tuesday would leave them suspended for the second round, players on single yellows do not carry them forward from the first stage. "If we had to win to go through I would probably risk all three, but we don't need to do that," Eriksson said. “I don't want to leave all three out - maybe one or two.â€

 

Rooney, who made his comeback after seven weeks out with a fractured metatarsal as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, is an obvious candidate to come in for Crouch if the Liverpool striker is one of those players who do not feature. Eriksson said: "Together with our medical staff we discussed it and they think and I think he can play more than 45 minutes.

 

"And if it's more than 45 minutes then it is better he starts the game than coming on. He is very important for us because he's a fantastic player." The Swede admitted that England were "a different team" with Rooney playing and he added: "He has been telling me he's fit and ready for the last three weeks."

 

It is expected that Rooney and Michael Owen will start together up front. Owen, like David Beckham, is hoping to become the first Englishman to score in three FIFA World Cupâ„¢ finals, though he has been struggling for form and fitness and was taken off in favour of Rooney against Trinidad and Tobago.

 

 

Midfield combinations

England’s midfield options seem more open and if either Gerrard or Lampard are rested, it is possible that Michael Carrick or Owen Hargreaves may come in, though Aaron Lennon was an impressive substitute on the right against Trinidad and Tobago in Nuremberg on Thursday.

If Lennon were to start on the right flank, England captain Beckham could be given a more central role. Opponents Sweden only need a draw to ensure their passage to the second round, though England have not beaten Eriksson’s home country since 1968 and are hoping to reverse the trend in Cologne.

 

A victory or draw for England would see them finish as winners of Group B and leave them facing a second-round match against the runners-up of Group A – either Germany or Ecuador – in Stuttgart on Sunday.

 

Three points for the Swedes would leave them on top of the group and see England travelling to Munich to play the Group A winners on Saturday.

 

 

Good. I hope Hargreaves/Jenas/Carrick start in centre midfield too. There's no need for booked players to play.

Personally there is no need to play Crouch but I would play either Gerrard or Lampard seen as the majority of our shots have been coming from them two. Sure, we're already through but if we get completely hammered by Sweden then it won't do the English supporters or team ANY good. Not to mention we'll, more than likely, get a harder draw if we lose to Sweden and finish second.

I think Carrick and Lennon should play instead of Gerrard and Lampard myself. It'd be brilliant to see Rooney start but I think Walcott will come on later though.

Hargreaves best not start :( . Jenas and Carrick should replace both Gerrard and Lampard as we cannot afford them to banned.

 

I also think its time to give Beckham a kick up the arse. He should be dropped in favour of Lennon.

Nah Lennon should just be used as a sub to inject some pace when the opposition are getting knackered!

I also think its time to give Beckham a kick up the arse. He should be dropped in favour of Lennon.

Have you been watching the past four games? :blink:

When Sven goes, at least Hargreaves won't get carted over to every England game -_- I'm sorry, but he is no way good enough to come on as a sub nearly every game.

Why isn't Carrick playing instead of rubbish Owen Hargreaves. He is useless and Carrick has deserved his chance unlike owen who has made bad mistakes in the past two games.

Have you been watching the past four games? :blink:

 

I think he was excellent on the two warm up games and his delivery's from set peices have been excellent in the WC, but his overall has been poor over that past two games. I just think that by Sven dropping Beckham it might help him raise his game, but I doubt Sven will drop his captain.