Thu, Jun 22, 2006 page20

• World Cup: Owen makes Eriksson's fears come true

  RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS Michael Owen will play no further part in the World Cup after twisting his knee against Sweden, leaving Rooney, Crouch and Walcott as strikers

  • AFP
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  Group B
  

  England 2, Sweden 2Sven-Goran Eriksson's worst fears have been realized after the cruel injury to Michael Owen that has seriously depleted England's already threadbare attacking options.

  Owen was yesterday ruled out of any further involvement in the World Cup after twisting a knee in the first minute of England's 2-2 draw with Sweden at the Rhein Energie Stadion on Tuesday.

  

  England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, left, and Ashley Cole watch the ball fly into the net for a 2-2 draw during the Group B match against Sweden in Cologne on Tuesday.

  PHOTO: EPA

  That leaves Eriksson with only three strikers for the remainder of the tournament -- a not yet fully-fit Wayne Rooney, Liverpool's Peter Crouch and untested Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott.

  If Eriksson's risky decision to take only four strikers to Germany was the selectorial equivalent of gambling everything on red, Owen's sad exit was the moment it came up black. A squad overloaded with midfielders who are unlikely to play a significant part in England's campaign -- neither Michael Carrick nor Jermaine Jenas have yet kicked a ball in anger -- always looked unbalanced.

  Now Eriksson's critics are united in a chorus of "I told you so" as England prepare to tackle Ecuador in the last 16 on Sunday.

  Nevertheless, Eriksson put on a brave face in the immediate aftermath of England's draw, insisting that his side have enough options in midfield as well as attack to provide a reliable source of goals.

  "If you talk about other options, we have many players who can take that second striker role. We have Theo Walcott, who we haven't seen yet, we have Joe Cole, we have Steven Gerrard. Both of them scored fantastic goals. So I'm not that worried about it at all," Eriksson said.

  Publicly, Eriksson is still defending his decision to pick the 17-year-old Walcott, who he has never seen play.

  Yet as the tournament reaches the sudden-death knockout stages it is becoming harder to see circumstances where Eriksson will feel comfortable with playing the youngster.

  Eriksson is confident that Walcott will be able to cope with the pressure if and when he decides to use him.

  "I think he can handle it," Eriksson said. "The weeks he's been together with us have been fantastic for him. He's getting better and better, with more and more confidence, he talks more, wants the ball more and is scoring fantastic goals in training."

  Privately, however, Eriksson will be praying that the talismanic Rooney can continue his remarkable comeback from a broken metatarsal and make a full return to fitness for the rest of the World Cup.

  The 20-year-old played 67 minutes against Sweden and immediately gave England's forward play a sense of menace and guile that had been sorely missing in lackluster wins over Paraguay and Trinidad-Tobago.

  Rooney's presence was a constant threat to the Swedish defense, who looked uncomfortable whenever the Manchester United player had the ball at his feet.

  In keeping with his ferociously competitive temperament, Rooney looked disgusted to have been taken off, hurling his boots to the ground in disgust and thumping the dugout in anger.

  Eriksson was not bothered by the display of petulance from Rooney, however.

  "I asked him after the game and he said it was because he was disappointed with his performance," Eriksson said.

  "He felt he could have played better in the second half. It's not a problem at all. I think we did well to take him off," he said.
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