This is by far the best objective game report thus far in my reading today:
from CBC.ca
England ekes out World Cup win
15/06/2006 7:18:36 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBC Sports
Star forward Wayne Rooney made his World Cup debut in Germany on Thursday but it was Peter Crouch who saved England against Trinidad and Tobago, and sent his country through to the second round.
Peter Crouch of England rises to score the winning goal against Trinidad and Tobago Thursday at the World Cup.
(Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Crouch scored a header off a David Beckham cross in the 83rd minute to lift England to a hard fought 2-0 victory in a Group B game in Nuremberg.
Steven Gerrard added a second goal in injury time for England who secured a spot in the round of 16.
Trinidad, nicknamed the Soca Warriors, nearly pulled off its second consecutive shocker at the tournament - it held Sweden to a goalless draw in its opener - but Crouch made sure England earned three points.
With a population of 1.3 million, Trinidad and Tobago is the smallest nation at the 32-team tournament. The Caribbean nation is ranked no. 47 in the current FIFA world rankings, 37 places below England.
"It would be fair to say that you haven't seen the best of us yet, but we put ourselves in a good position. We know we can play better," Beckham said.
Broke a bone in his foot
Rooney was cleared by doctors to play after missing England's 1-0 opening win over Paraguay.
The 20-year-old Manchester United forward broke a bone in his right foot on April 29 playing against Chelsea. He had been training with the England squad since early June.
An uninspired England that lacked urgency and intensity strolled through the first half. Though they dominated possession with some fine individual displays, the English side lacked cohesion and invention in the offensive zone.
England came close to scoring early when Frank Lampard ripped a shot on goal that Trinidad goalkeeper Shaka Hislop could not handle, but England forward Michael Owen was unable control the rebound which bounced off his knee and wide.
Crouch had the best scoring chance just before the end of the half. David Beckham played a perfect cross from the right into the middle where Crouch was alone, but the Liverpool forward volleyed his shot embarrassingly wide of the net.
Rooney replaced Owen
England nearly paid for that dreadful miss when Trinidad threatened a minute later off a corner kick but England defender John Terry made a great goal-line clearance.
England looked just as complacent early in the second half, forcing coach Sven Goran Eriksson to make a major move in the 58th minute when he replaced an ineffective Michael Owen with Rooney and substituted defender Jamie Carragher with winger Aaron Lennon.
With Rooney on the field and an extra player in midfield, England showed signs of life for the first time in the contest, as its attack became a bit more direct and purposeful.
Lampard has a handful of shots on net, but none of them really troubled the Trinidad goalkeeper.
Trinidad appeared to have earned the draw but Beckham played a perfect pass deep into the box and Crouch out jumped defender Brent Sancho to head the ball home and save England from a major embarrassment.
"People expected us to walk through this game," Beckham said. "We knew they were going to play 11 men behind the ball. They made it hard for us all game. We knew if we kept to our game plan that we'd break them down."
England's next game is against Sweden in Cologne next Tuesday, while Trinidad faces Paraguay in Kaiserslautern.
IMPACT PLAYERS
England: Peter Crouch - His goal allowed England to earn three points when it looked certain it would have to settle for a draw.
Trinidad and Tobago: Shaka Hislop - Trinidad's goalkeeper wasn't really tested but he did make a few saves.
