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Giants Toil
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-01 09:41 Sven-goran Eriksson's re-shuffled England faces a bumpy ride at the World Cup finals judging by its labored victory over Hungary.
Though there were several positives to take from Tuesday's 3-1 success, there was also reason to rue once again the broken foot suffered by striker Wayne Rooney in his nation's hour of need. Eriksson's response was to move attack-minded midfielder Steven Gerrard into a striking role behind Michael Owen and give central defender Jamie Carragher the equally unfamiliar job of a holding midfielder.
Gerrard won a dubious penalty just before the break and headed in England's 47th minute opener from a cross by David Beckham, who had a peerless evening at his former Old Trafford stomping ground. But at times in the first half Gerrard looked lost in space. Ill at ease in a No. 9 shirt, he faces a steep learning curve given that England opens its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 10. Carragher made a decent fist of his new job, though arguably it was less of a change for an experienced defender. The problem was that England was not really incisive until five minutes before the break. Even then, it needed an old-style solution of Beckham banging in a series of superb crosses from the right flank. Owen, looking rusty after a four-month layoff since December 31, should have converted one of them with a close-range header while Joe Cole hit the inside of the post with the other. As England toiled against a Hungary side which was sharp on the ball and quick to get back, Owen was forced at times to pull back in search of possession or collect a lofted pass upfield as a lone striker. For a player whose game is all about pace and running into space behind defenders it was not the support he needed. Even Eriksson said: "If we want to play like that, it's important we don't play too many long high balls - we have to try to keep it on the floor. Michael Owen is not the best target man in the world." Beckham followed up his masterclass by supplying two more crosses just after the break that were gobbled up by Gerrard and John Terry, his first goal for his country. Carragher was replaced by Owen Hargreaves in the holding role with the Liverpool player switching to right back after Gary Neville came off as a precaution with a hamstring problem. Eriksson will be praying Neville does not develop a full-blown injury as Carragher is now needed elsewhere, although Hargreaves could play either role. Upfront, striker Peter Crouch came on to score England's late third goal, underlining a belief held by many that he is a better sub than a starter. Striker Theo Walcott, who became England's youngest player as a 17-year-old, provided real zip in the closing stages with his pace and could cause trouble in Germany. Rooney's injury has cast a very long shadow over England's World Cup preparations. Unless there is great news from a scan on his broken metatarsal on June 7, England needs a plan for the finals that does not involve the inspirational striker. Eriksson will get one final look at his options on Saturday in a friendly against Jamaica, chosen for its similarity to future Group B opponent Trinidad and Tobago. Hopefully for Eriksson, England will be more convincing this time. |
