BUEHLERTAL, Germany -- England hasn't beaten Sweden since 1968. It's starting to irritate.

The run goes back 11 matches and includes a 1-1 draw in the group stage at the 2002 World Cup.

Then, Sweden won the group. On Tuesday, England wants to be there instead -- for the first time since the 1990 World Cup.

"I think it's about time we put a stop to this Sweden thing and we go out on Tuesday and get a win against them," England midfielder Steven Gerrard said Saturday. "We're really confident we can go and get three points."

There have been four Swedish victories and seven draws since England won 3-1 on May 22, 1968. Two games were in World Cup qualifying in 1998 and '99, with neither team scoring in either match. In a first-rounder of the 2002 World Cup, they tied 1-1.

Sweden's wins were 1-0 in a friendly in 1986, 2-1 in the 1992 European Championship, 2-1 in the 1998 qualifying rounds for the 2000 Euros, and 1-0 in a friendly in March 2004.

The last time England won all three of its group games was at the 1982 World Cup, where it was eliminated in the second round. England only needs a tie against Sweden to advance as Group B winner.

"That record is something that, for me, has no bearing on the game," said midfielder Frank Lampard, who turns 28 on the day of the match. "It's a nice to thing to talk about, it's an interesting fact and it's something that we don't like hanging over us, but this is a one-off game that is important for us to top our group."

Both players acknowledge that England has to step up a gear. It struggled in the heat during its 1-0 victory over Paraguay, secured through an own-goal. It then took 83 minutes for England to break down the Trinidad and Tobago defense in Thursday's 2-0 win that advanced it to the second round.

"The players are desperate to improve and want to improve," Gerrard said. "We've come under a bit of criticism of late and we're taking that on board.

"We do understand that we need to start playing better quickly. I'm really confident that the further we go into this tournament, the better we'll play. We've got a lot of big players in our squad who can perform on the big stage. We won't disappoint in this tournament."

Lampard wants England to better dictate the pace of the game, something it didn't against the Soca Warriors.

"We have to up the tempo, we have to find the right times to move the ball about quickly, and sometimes playing to the strengths that we have up front," Lampard said. "When we have the ball and we move it quickly, I think we're very hard to defend against."

It helps that Wayne Rooney is back in the starting lineup. The Manchester United striker made his World Cup debut in the 58th minute against Trinidad and Tobago, not quite seven weeks after breaking a bone in his right foot. He didn't score, but the focus on him freed up other players, and he also helped provide a link from the midfield to the forwards.

"We always knew that the moment he came on, it would be a lift for the fans and the team because he's a very important player for us," Lampard said. "We have become obsessed with the Wayne Rooney situation. Now that he's fit, it's about the team."

Lurking in the round of 16 is Germany. The World Cup hosts' match against Ecuador earlier Tuesday will determine first and second place in Group A. Ecuador needs only a draw to claim the top spot on goal difference. Group B's winner plays the runner-up of Group A and vice versa.

Lampard doesn't mind who England faces.

"We will be difficult opponents for whoever," he said.