BUEHLERTAL, Germany - They won, 1-0, and that's what counts.
England's team captain David Beckham cools
hisself down during the group B match of the soccer World Cup 2006 between
England and Paraguay in the World Cup stadium Frankfurt, Germany,
Saturday, June 10, 2006. Other teams in group B are Sweden and Trinidad
and Tobago. England won 1-0.[AP] |
England was also sapped by the sun and struggling against Paraguay, and
that's the last thing it wants against its next opponent - twin-island
upstart Trinidad and Tobago, which played Sweden to a stunning 0-0 draw.
"You can't roll over teams like Trinidad," midfielder Joe Cole said Sunday.
"They showed yesterday that they can compete against Sweden. ... To get the
start we did was marvelous."
And a gift.
Without even scoring a goal, England won its Group C opener when Paraguay
captain Carlos Gamarra inadvertently headed in captain David Beckham's curling
free kick less than three minutes into Saturday's match.
That exhilarating start, which surely delighted Prince William, who made the
trip to Frankfurt, fell apart fast when the team wilted in the 86-degree heat.
Some players sweated off nearly 10 pounds, even though team officials
provided nearly three times as much water as usual during the match.
By the second half, England's normally aggressive, physical game was in the
tank.
"I'm not worried we faded," Beckham said. "Our performance was totally down
to the heat. You can't go into a game like that and expect to be playing 100
percent all through the game.
"The important thing is that we have got off to a good start and that's what
we have to be happy with. It's not often we are in this position after the first
game."
And they might get star striker Wayne Rooney back for the T&T game. Coach
Sven Goran-Eriksson said Sunday night he was "optimistic" that Rooney could play
Thursday.
Rooney has been sidelined for six weeks with a broken foot.
Cole was concerned that his teammates were waved away from getting water on
the sideline by game officials. It wasn't clear whether the same thing happened
to Paraguay players.
"There was a couple of times when you went over to ... try and get a drink,
and for some reason they didn't want us to," he said. "I don't know too much
about that, but I think it's important in those conditions to be drinking
regularly.
"Without sounding like we're making excuses ¡ª we won the game ¡ª but I think
the conditions played a massive part," he said.
England director of communications Adrian Bevington said the team's medical
staff was also concerned. England went through 148 pints of water during the
match; it normally goes through 42.
"It's important that FIFA and the referees take into account that players are
getting dehydrated, and if there's a break in play, or it's a goal kick or a
corner or a throw-in, that the referee just factors in an extra second or two so
the players can get a quick intake of water," Bevington said.
FIFA said it encouraged players to drink fluids.
