NUREMBERG, Germany - England, Ecuador and host
nation Germany have advanced to the second round of the World Cup. Sweden hopes
to join them soon.
Late goals by Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard helped England post a 2-0
victory over World Cup debutant Trinidad & Tobago and become the first team
from Group B to progress.
It seemed at first that not even the return of star striker Wayne Rooney
would inspire England to a win over World Cup. But Crouch scored with seven
minutes left and Gerrard, who missed the 2002 World Cup due to injury, added a
second goal in stoppage time.
"We showed a lot of patience," England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said. "It is
difficult to play a team with nine or 10 men behind the ball and they had
discipline. If we had taken our chances it would have been a different match.
I'm extremely happy with the result."
Rooney, who was medically cleared to return after missing 6 1/2 weeks due to
a broken foot, came off the bench in the 58th minute as England struggled to
break down its Caribbean opponent, which battled with 10 men to hold Sweden to a
scoreless tie in its opening game.
"I'm relieved the saga of Rooney is over," Eriksson said. "We have talked
about it every day. We are fed up with it. It's over and that's very good. He
did very well when he came on and he can only be better and better."
England (2-0-0) plays Sweden (1-0-1) in its last group game on Tuesday.
Trinidad & Tobago (0-1-1) plays Paraguay (0-2-0).
Freddie Ljungberg's last-gasp goal put Sweden in the driver's seat to join
England from Group B in the second round.
Ljungberg, a midfielder for Arsenal, directed a header past Aldo Bobadilla in
the 89th minute to give Sweden a 1-0 victory over Paraguay, which was eliminated
after a second straight loss.
If Sweden avoids a loss in Tuesday's Group B clash with England, it will
advance to the second round for the second time in a row.
"It's going to be a massive game against England because we both want to win
the group," Ljungberg said. "It's going to be difficult because they are a good
team but it should be a great game."
After an opening 0-0 tie with Trinidad & Tobago, which played the second
half with 10 men, Sweden appeared to be on the verge of another scoreless draw.
But Ljungberg finally broke the deadlock following good work by substitute
Marcus Allback.
Ecuador (2-0-0) advanced to the second round for the first time.
Goals from Carlos Tenorio, Agustin Delgado and substitute Ivan Kaviedes
lifted Ecuador to a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in a Group A game.
"It's a day of celebration for Ecuador," coach Luis Suarez said. "We have
never qualified for the second stage and this is a fantastic achievement for us.
We haven't come to the World Cup just for the ride. We want to have a starring
role and we now want more."
Germany (2-0-0) also advanced to the Round of 16 from Group A because of
Ecuador's win.
Costa Rica (0-2-0) and Poland (0-2-0) were eliminated from the group stage
for the second successive tournament.
Ecuador - in only its second World Cup - now faces Germany on Tuesday at
Berlin in a game which will decide first place in Group A.
