England launched their bid to win the World Cup for the first time in 40 years with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in a scrappy Group B encounter on Saturday.
A headed own goal after only four minutes from Paraguay captain Carlos Gamarra settled the encounter, but it was far from the convincing display that England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson had been hoping for.
Despite dominating the Paraguayans for long periods at the sun-baked Waldstadion, England lacked a cutting edge up front throughout, with strikers Peter Crouch and Michael Owen struggling to get on target.
Eriksson, however, will be content to have improved England’s dismal record of having won only one opening match of a major tournament in the past 20 years, knowing that a victory over minnows Trinidad and Tobago in Nuremberg next Thursday will put them into the next round.
Yet the return to match fitness of Manchester United star Wayne Rooney clearly cannot come soon enough for England, who failed to build on the dream start handed to them by Gamarra’s own goal.
Once again the goal came via England captain David Beckham’s right boot, the Real Madrid star sending a wicked inswinging free-kick into the box that Gamarra glanced past goalkeeper Justo Villar.
A disastrous opening for Paraguay got worse only a few minutes later when Villar limped off with what looked like an injury to his right leg.
England, with Steven Gerrard outstanding in central midfield after recovering from a pre-match injury scare, threatened to run riot early on against a Paraguayan side that seemed paralysed by nerves.
Gerrard saw an ambitious volley fly over the bar on 10 minutes and seconds later produced a sublime pass that sent former teammate Owen bearing down on goal.
Owen, who has hardly played this year after breaking his foot last December, was let down by his first touch however, allowing Paraguay to cover and clear the danger. It was typical of what would prove to be an unhappy afternoon for Owen, who was replaced by Stewart Downing on 53 minutes.
Paraguay had to wait until the 18th minute before their first meaningful chance, when a rare foray into England territory ended with Carlos Paredes shooting wide of the post.
The only downside for England was a booking shortly afterwards for Gerrard, seeing a yellow from fussy Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez after a challenge on Cristian Riveros that appeared to make minimal contact.
Paraguay’s best chance came in the closing minutes of the half when Werder Bremen’s Nelson Valdez lashed a shot just wide of the right-hand post as Paraguay capitalised on a slip by England left-back Ashley Cole.
England again started brightly in the second half, with Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole impressing after being shifted into the hole behind Crouch after Owen’s substitution.
But an increasingly confident Paraguay had alarm bells ringing in the England defence on 60 minutes when Robinson could only palm a Carlos Bonet cross to Paredes, who hooked his volley over.
A booking for Crouch on 63 minutes summed up England’s frustration as both sides appeared to tire in the Frankfurt heat.
Frank Lampard looked the most likely to increase England’s goal tally, twice seeing long-range shots well saved by Paraguay replacement keeper Aldo Bobadilla. — AFP
