England Beats Sweden, Not this year

[Jersay]

England 2, Sweden 2

By NANCY ARMOUR, AP National Writer
June 20, 2006

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) -- England finally got a result against Sweden it can live with.

No, not a win -- that has been too much to ask for. A 2-2 tie Tuesday, however, was enough for the English to win Group B at the World Cup.

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Henrik Larsson tied it off a throw-in, getting the slightest touch to deflect the ball into the net in the 90th minute. England hasn't beaten the Swedes since way back in 1968 -- seven years before David Beckham was born -- a streak of frustration that is now at 12 games.

But the tie means Sweden has to face three-time champion and World Cup host Germany in Munich in the second round Saturday.

Joe Cole scored in the 34th minute, and then set up Steven Gerrard's go-ahead goal in the 85th for England. But the English couldn't put away the Swedes, a problem that has lasted nearly four decades.

Marcus Allback had tied it 1-1 for the Swedes on a header in the 51st minute.

England plays Ecuador on Sunday in Stuttgart.

England looked as if it might finally end its misery against Sweden thanks to Cole. He scored on a brilliant 30-yard shot, then got the ball to Gerrard for the go-ahead score.

But Sweden, which pressured England throughout the second half, came through in the dying moments.

Larsson barely brushed the throw-in from Tobias Linderoth, but it was enough to get by Sol Campbell and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson. It set off a raucous celebration by the Sweden fans and quieted the English, who had been singing "God Save the Queen" only a few minutes earlier.

Sweden is 4-0-8 in the streak against England.

 

[Jersay]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I guess the British need a little more then a Canadian to win against Sweden.

 

[Blackleaf]

Sweden is 4-0-8 in the streak against England.

What about all the draws between the two countries, such as the draw today? And the 1-1 in the 2002 World Cup? How can it be 4-0-8?

Today's game finished 2-2 and England only needed a draw to finish top of the group.

As for the 'Canadian' Hargreaves - his father is English and his mother his Welsh. He was only born in Canada but has hardly ever lived there and he certainly doesn't consider himself Canadian.

And if he's so good, why were both of England's goals scored by Cole and Gerrard and why is it that England fail to win for the first time in this torunament when he starts the game for the first time?

 

[Jersay]

Four wins and eight draws. That really doesn't matter though because England still can't beat Sweden and if they ever met in a World Cup nowadays my bet would be on Sweden. Let's go Sweden.

 

[Blackleaf]

Four wins and eight draws. That really doesn't matter though because England still can't beat Sweden and if they ever met in a World Cup nowadays my bet would be on Sweden. Let's go Sweden.

I would bet on a draw, not a Sweden win. Because even though England haven't beaten Sweden since 1968, most of the games have been draws, such as the Last 2 meetings in the World Cup.

And, at the end of the day, look where we have finished in our group and look where thr Swedes have finished.

The Swedes now have the prospect of facing Germany in the next round. We just have to play Ecuador.

..................P...W...D...L...F...A...Pts
England........3....2...1....0...5...2....7
Sweden........3....1...2....0...3...2....5
Paraguay.......3....1...0....2...2...2....3
T&T.............3....0...1....2...0...4....1

 

[Jersay]

Four wins and eight draws. That really doesn't matter though because England still can't beat Sweden and if they ever met in a World Cup nowadays my bet would be on Sweden. Let's go Sweden.

I would bet on a draw, not a Sweden win. Because even though England haven't beaten Sweden since 1968, most of the games have been draws, such as the Last 2 meetings in the World Cup.

And, at the end of the day, look where we have finished in our group and look where thr Swedes have finished.

The Swedes now have the prospect of facing Germany in the next round. We just have to play Ecuador.

..................P...W...D...L...F...A...Pts
England........3....2...1....0...5...2....7
Sweden........3....1...2....0...3...2....5
Paraguay.......3....1...0....2...2...2....3
T&T.............3....0...1....2...0...4....1

I'm not too worried about that. Ecuador has played very well.

 

[Blackleaf]

Yeah, but England, unlike Ecuador, are unbeaten in this World Cup and haven't lost their previous 9 games, and finishing only second in the group means that Sweden have a more difficult route to the Final than England. That's the whole point of qualifying for the next round as group winners rather than runners-up. If we lost and finished 2nd, we would have had to play Argentina in the quarter finals. Instead, Sweden may have to play them in the quarter finals whereas as group winners can't meet the Argies until the Final.

 

[Toro]

As for the 'Canadian' Hargreaves - his father is English and his mother his Welsh. He was only born in Canada but has hardly ever lived there and he certainly doesn't consider himself Canadian.

Actually, Blackleaf, he lived in Calgary until he was 16. And he has said in interviews that he is proud to be Canadian.

 

[Blackleaf]

Actually, Blackleaf, he lived in Calgary until he was 16. And he has said in interviews that he is proud to be Canadian.

Which is probably why he isn't good enough for the England team.

And if he's "proud to be Canadian", why did he choose to play for England over Canada? Is he a Glory Hunter?

Considering that both his parents were born and raised in Britain, he's about as Canadian as Churchill was.

 

[#juan]

He was good Blackleaf, the rest of the team was a handicap. :wink:

 

[fuflans]

Considering that both his parents were born and raised in Britain, he's about as Canadian as Churchill was.

Tell him that.

I've heard that Hargreaves had a falling out with the CSA which contributed to his decision to play for England.

 

[Blackleaf]

Let's get technical and analyse England's defence during the 2-2 with Sweden.

Alan Hansen: England also need to look at the areas around the penalty spot. At one point we had nine players in the six yard box.

In this instance the ball was played deep, got nodded to the edge of the area and Steven Gerrard cleared off the line.

Terry Butcher: I would put Beckham on the edge of the box and tell Owen Hargreaves to take the near post. He is more defensively-minded than Beckham and will attack the ball.

From what the players have said, I expect this to be top priority in training before they play Ecuador.
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Terry Butcher: If England had left one or two up front, then Sweden may have had to drop two or three out of the box to take care of them.

It is always easier to defend if there are less bodies in the box because it then becomes very clear what your job is. You are then responsible for your man.

More bodies equals more confusion. People can make runs, they can block people off and life suddenly becomes easier if you are an attacker and you want to get away from your marker.
----------------------------------------

Alan Hansen: When you're setting up for corner kicks defensively, there are four important areas: the near post, the centre of the goal, the back post and around the penalty spot.

The priority for the man at the near post (David Beckham) is to take care of anything that is in front of him.

Alan Shearer: In that position you can't get square on. You have to get side on so that you see anyone trying to run in front of you.

Lee Dixon: You don't have to be strong, you don't have to clever, you just have to block the run.
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Alan Hansen: England had another scare from a corner when Paul Robinson tipped a Henrik Larsson header onto the bar.

Jamie Carragher was behind Larsson and Beckham again should have got in front of the Swede.

England had a word about it but it was bizarre because the next time Carragher goes with Larsson.

But now you've got Beckham in the box and Carragher, one of your best defenders, outside the danger area.



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