World Cup Watch: England v Paraguay

Huge expectation always surrounds England in major tournaments. Superb German organisation, and the best England team in years, perhaps ever, means the pressure is on moreso, in what has become the most eagerly anticipated World Cup Finals in decades.

It's just a shame we've got Sven in charge!

The Paraguay game started well. And ended as always, with bizarre substitutions and England hanging on desperately.

Becks put in a great free-kick from 35 yards on 3 minutes, and it took a slight deflection off the defender, and went in. Great start; everyone expecting a rout.

We played well, considering the excessive heat in the first half, but once Sven got involved at half time, the whole thing turned to rat-shit. Again.

To begin with, he removed Owen. Now, we know he isn't a patch on the player he used to be, but until Rooney is back, he's all we've got. So this left Crouch on his own up front. Mistake number two. Mistake number one being picking him in the first place.
That's a bit harsh really, as he did alright in the first half. Nothing spectacular, just playing his knock-downs as he should. Which makes leaving him upfront on his own all the more baffling; Who the fuck is he going to knock the ball down to when he's on his own Sven?

Joey Cole did well, man of the match in fact. He can easily play that role off the striker, probably better than anyone else, but it needs to be a striker, and Crouch isn't that.

Later we saw the introduction of Owen Fucking Hargreaves. I don't need to say anymore, except we were lucky to finish with the 3 points.

All said and done though, we have got the points, and the unexpected draw in the Sweden Trinidad game, puts us in pole position. Now we just have to make sure we beat Trinidad, but we also need a performance. That is what this country, and our massive travelling support needs more than ever...Not to mention the other teams out there who are checking us out.