Larsson's late leveller

Sweden 2-2 England

2006 World Cup Finals, Group B
Tuesday 20 June 2006
RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne

England will play Ecuador in the last 16 of the World Cup after drawing 2-2 with Sweden - but they were denied victory by a dramatic last-gasp equaliser here in Cologne.

Subsitute Steven Gerrrad thought he had become the first Englishman to score a winner against the Swedes since 1968 when he finished off a cross from the superb Joe Cole after 85 minutes.

But the match ended level after Henrik Larsson forced a late, late equaliser to guarantee his own team’s progress in the competition.

The Three Lions will now play Ecuador in the second round in Stuttgart on Sunday and Cole in particular will be relishing that.

He was outstanding here in Cologne and it was his dipping 25-yard volley after 34 minutes that put England ahead before Sweden equalised through Marcus Allback in a stirring second-half fight back.

Wayne Rooney also gave his country a boost by completing 70 minutes from the start before being replaced by goal scorer Gerrard.

But there were also down sides for Sven-Goran Eriksson to consider with Michael Owen going off injured after only one minute and Sweden mounting a ferocious second-half bombardment.

The Three Lions had the worst possible start when Owen had to be carried off with a suspected knee injury after just 60 seconds. He will undergo a scan tomorrow to ascertain the extent of the damage.

But they went on to dominate the opening period and score a goal-of-the-tournament contender through Cole.

The Chelsea midfielder chested down a ball 25 yards out and, before it could hit the deck, sent a glorious dipping volley high into the roof of the net.

It was no more than Cole deserved after a hugely impressive first-half display in which Owen Hargreaves was also outstanding in a defensive midfield role.

But Sweden fought back after the break to equalise in the 51st minute.

A corner from Tobias Lenderoth was met with a glancing header at the near post from Marcus Allback, which looped into the opposite corner of the net, just over the head of Ashley Cole.

It was almost 2-1 just minutes later from another corner, this time the ball cannoning back off the bar from a Carragher header.

England brought on Sol Campbell for Rio Ferdinand after 56 minutes, adding extra power to their defensive line, but the match remained in the balance.

The Swedes came mighty close to scoring again when Ljungberg’s downward header was met by Olaf Milberg - but his effort scraped the crossbar.

England needed Campbell to produce a trademark thundering block on Henrik Larsson after 61 minutes as Sweden thundered into action.

Rooney, who had been impressive especially in the first half, eventually made way for Gerrard after 70 minutes.

The Manchester United star, making his first start since breaking his foot in April, showed wonderful skill to pluck a Beckham pass out of the air early on but was denied a fairytale goal by a superb block from Teddy Lucic.

He also did superbly to set up Frank Lampard with a chance and was unlucky to be ruled offside when put through by Cole.

England didn’t find it so easy to dominate possession in the second half as Sweden, who needed at least a draw to go through, turned up the heat.

Gerrard had to clear off the line from a Kim Kallstrom effort before the end and it was against the run of play when the same player headed home at the other end after Cole twisted to send over a superb cross.

It looked like a famous victory but Sweden had one last chance when a freakish long throw bounced in the area and Larsson stuck out a boot to equalise.

It wasn’t the end to the night that England had envisaged but it was thrilling all the same and the result leaves Sven’s men top of Group B with seven points - and Ecuador next to come.

Three games down, hopefully four more to go..

England v Sweden, FIFA World Cup, Cologne, 20 June 2005

England: Paul Robinson, Jamie Carragher, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand (Sol Campbell, 56), Ashley Cole, David Beckham, Owen Hargreaves, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Wayne Rooney (Steven Gerrard, 69), Michael Owen (Peter Crouch, 3).
Subs not used: David James, Scott Carson, Wayne Bridge, Gary Neville, Aaron Lennon, Stewart Downing, Jermaine Jenas, Michael Carrick, Theo Walcott

Goals: Cole 34, Gerrard 85