bad_meetz_evil
04-03-2006, 06:18 PM
FIFA world ranking: No. 9.
How they qualified for Germany: Won UEFA Group 6 with an 8-1-1 record.
Previous World Cups and finishes: 11 appearances (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002). Champions in '66, fourth place in '90, quarterfinals in '54, '62, '70, '86, '02.
Manager: Sven-Göran Eriksson, sixth and final year with team.
Key players
England's strike force brings together two players with differing yet complementary styles: Wayne Rooney's strength, determination and ability to create goals from nothing -- especially from long range -- is matched by Michael Owen's positioning, speed and lethal finishing from within the box. Midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard both boast high goal-scoring records as well as the ability to provide defense-splitting passes, while the crossing talents of captain David Beckham from the right wing are second to none.
Opposing defenders will also have to cope with England's attack-minded left flank, where Ashley Cole's overlapping runs and crosses add to the threat posed by Joe Cole's trickery.
What to watch for
England's starting XI is made up of truly world-class players who, on paper, look like a potential tournament winner. However, two major flaws could conspire to cause an earlier exit. The center-midfield partnership of Gerrard and Lampard brings together the two best attack-minded box-to-box midfielders in the English Premier League. But defensively this sometimes leaves England exposed with neither Cole nor Beckham likely to provide sufficient cover. Gerrard still needs to prove he can take hold of and control a game at the highest international level, as he does so consistently for Liverpool.
Second, the center-defense partnership of Chelsea stalwart John Terry and Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, the world's most expensive defender, offers a combination of aerial dominance, pace and strength. But both are error-prone (especially Ferdinand), which means England could concede a soft and potentially crucial goal.
In addition to his starters, coach Eriksson can call on three players from the bench with the strengths to create or score a late goal: the aerial threat of 6-foot-7 Peter Crouch, the pace and skill of the mercurial Shaun Wright-Phillips and the finishing prowess of the EPL's leading English goal-scorer, Darren Bent.
Of some concern is England's preparedness. The team's strong record in qualifying disguises the reality of some less-than-convincing performances during its campaign, particularly a 1-0 defeat to soccer minnow Northern Ireland. However, England looked impressive when it beat its group's second-place finisher and fellow World Cup qualifier Poland, both home and away.
England's relative fitness and stamina is difficult to discern. Will the players benefit from being used to the up-tempo EPL? Or will the high number of games in the English domestic season take its toll?
Group: C (Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden).
Key match in group stage: June 20 vs. Sweden. England is expected to win all three of its group games, but historians will point out that it hasn't beaten the Swedes since 1966. The result of this match will likely decide whether England meets host Germany in the second round or the semifinal. In the more likely latter scenario, England will get a chance to avenge its semifinal defeats in the '90 World Cup and at Euro '96.
How they qualified for Germany: Won UEFA Group 6 with an 8-1-1 record.
Previous World Cups and finishes: 11 appearances (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002). Champions in '66, fourth place in '90, quarterfinals in '54, '62, '70, '86, '02.
Manager: Sven-Göran Eriksson, sixth and final year with team.
Key players
England's strike force brings together two players with differing yet complementary styles: Wayne Rooney's strength, determination and ability to create goals from nothing -- especially from long range -- is matched by Michael Owen's positioning, speed and lethal finishing from within the box. Midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard both boast high goal-scoring records as well as the ability to provide defense-splitting passes, while the crossing talents of captain David Beckham from the right wing are second to none.
Opposing defenders will also have to cope with England's attack-minded left flank, where Ashley Cole's overlapping runs and crosses add to the threat posed by Joe Cole's trickery.
What to watch for
England's starting XI is made up of truly world-class players who, on paper, look like a potential tournament winner. However, two major flaws could conspire to cause an earlier exit. The center-midfield partnership of Gerrard and Lampard brings together the two best attack-minded box-to-box midfielders in the English Premier League. But defensively this sometimes leaves England exposed with neither Cole nor Beckham likely to provide sufficient cover. Gerrard still needs to prove he can take hold of and control a game at the highest international level, as he does so consistently for Liverpool.
Second, the center-defense partnership of Chelsea stalwart John Terry and Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, the world's most expensive defender, offers a combination of aerial dominance, pace and strength. But both are error-prone (especially Ferdinand), which means England could concede a soft and potentially crucial goal.
In addition to his starters, coach Eriksson can call on three players from the bench with the strengths to create or score a late goal: the aerial threat of 6-foot-7 Peter Crouch, the pace and skill of the mercurial Shaun Wright-Phillips and the finishing prowess of the EPL's leading English goal-scorer, Darren Bent.
Of some concern is England's preparedness. The team's strong record in qualifying disguises the reality of some less-than-convincing performances during its campaign, particularly a 1-0 defeat to soccer minnow Northern Ireland. However, England looked impressive when it beat its group's second-place finisher and fellow World Cup qualifier Poland, both home and away.
England's relative fitness and stamina is difficult to discern. Will the players benefit from being used to the up-tempo EPL? Or will the high number of games in the English domestic season take its toll?
Group: C (Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden).
Key match in group stage: June 20 vs. Sweden. England is expected to win all three of its group games, but historians will point out that it hasn't beaten the Swedes since 1966. The result of this match will likely decide whether England meets host Germany in the second round or the semifinal. In the more likely latter scenario, England will get a chance to avenge its semifinal defeats in the '90 World Cup and at Euro '96.