Freddie Lungberg and Ashley Cole, Arsenal team mates square off
England meet Sweden in a Group B encounter in Cologne, today june 20 at 9:00 PM German time (3:00 PM EST)
Too much Rooney. There are not too many teams that you can count who have put their entire World Cup campaign on one player. This is an England squad that boasts Owen, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Ashley and Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, the list goes on. C’mon England you are supposed to be a team!
With the Germans winning group A, the English will have to go for a win. They do not want to face these Germans. Not with their star striker just coming out of injury and dealing with the likes of Metzelder and Frings. It will be the beginning of World War III. Klose has scored more goals than the entire team combined. Yes, they have not yet faced the likes of the English defence but the Poles were considered pretty good.
Sweden is playing without Zlatan, so there is one offensive weapon less but they have Allback who since coming on has impressed up front. But Sweden has to play all out too, because they do not want to depend on the T&T vs Paraguay match to find out if they have won.
Starters announced:
Sweden: Isaksson, Mellberg, Lucic, Edman, Linderoth, Alexandersson, Ljungberg, Larsson, Kallstrom, Jonson, Allback.
England: Robinson, A Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Beckham, Lampard, Rooney, Owen, J Cole, Carragher, Hargreaves.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
Noel Gallagher on England’s chances
“I can’t see England going for it tonight – I think it’ll be a draw. I’d rather get Germany in the next match. Ecuador will want to stick 10 men behind the ball, whereas Germany won’t be able to do that in front of their home crowd. England are fairly solidly average. They haven’t conceded any goals and don’t look like conceding any, which is a big plus and is as good as winning 5-0 for me.”
Noel Gallagher, Oasis singer/guitar player
England has never beaten Sweden since 1968.
Update: Michael Owen out within the first two minutes as his knee buckled. Crouch in.