WC Group B: Sweden v England [P+R]

[TOON ARMY]

Tuesday, 20 June, Kick-off: 2000 BST

vs

Venue: Cologne - RheinEnergieStadion

Referee: Massimo Busacca.

Sweden (probable): Isaksson, Mellberg, Lucic, Edman, Linderoth, Alexandersson, Ljungberg, Wilhelmsson, Kallstrom, Allback, Larsson.

England (probable): Robinson, Carragher, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Hargreaves, Cole, Owen, Rooney.


Sven will rest Crouch and Gerrard in light of their yellow cards. Carragher starts again for the injured Neville. Hargreaves slots into the mid-field and will be looking to have a good performance to silence the boo boys. Hopefully with Hargreaves holding we'll get the best out of Lampard. Rooney starts but all eyes will be on Michael Owen. Owen needs a goal desperately. When that first one comes he'll be fine.

England haven’t beaten Sweden since 1968. I'd settle for a draw which would see us top the group but we need a better performance going into the knock out round.

Discuss......

 

[MaSsiVe]

3-2

Kallstrom, Larsson x2
Beckham, Cole

 

[Voltaic Borusse]

I hope Sweden show them up.

3-0

Larsson, Wilhelmsson, Ljunberg

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

Sweden is playing a more eyecatching football... so i'll be rooting for them here... unless England comes up with a great display in this game, which they probably will...

My prediction:
2-1 Sweden

 

[Pogba4Now]

1-1. Hargreaves, Ljunberg.

 

[champdave]

My prediction - I don't care about the score, and I'll be at work anyway :boohoo:

(OK, so as long as we aren't thumped I don't care about the score)

 

[Help?]

Time for Sweden to get Roonestroyed

 

[MaSsiVe]

Engerland should not risk Rooney IMHO...
it'd be important to give him some more rest before the do-or-die matches arrive.

 

[pede54]

Not really important of course. All the result will determine is who will play who in the next round. Personally I dont care who we play after this. I've seen some nice performances so far from a couple of teams and some not so nice ones. Its all irrellevant anyway, one good game means squat, as does one bad game. Sure it would be nice to win but i aint sweating over the result. Its more important to get through the game injury and red card free.

So unless Hargreaves does not play to his usual low standard, and surprises the bejabers out of me, we will win this 3-1.......But dont quote me on this later when it goes belly up........ :funny:

 

[m3th0d]

England will show up for this match.

I say 2-0 ...

 

[Help?]

Engerland should not risk Rooney IMHO...
it'd be important to give him some more rest before the do-or-die matches arrive.

Or the game could be used to give him some more match practice before the important games.

 

[MaSsiVe]

right...but the whole country will be all over Sven in case Rooney has an injury wise breakdown in this match.
it's a gamble really, both measures can be taken in order to allow Rooney's well being and it's up to Sven to decide what to do.

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

Rooney is a horse... he will play at 100%, like he always does... and this contests between Sweden and England are always taken very seriously, in every aspect... the english fans and media will surely pressure the NT to perform well and win, due to the recent upsets that Swedes have caused to England, in the game...

If Rooney plays, i just hope that he doesn't get injured... he's one of the players i was more anxious to watch at this WC, he deserves to play, he deserves his NT to perform well and he deserves all the praise he gets... excellent and one of the most spirited players i've ever seen...

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Hargreaves is playing?! Good for England, but I'm sure fans and pundits alike are criticizing the hell out of that decision. As long as he's playing DM, he's going to be good.

 

[tuffgong]

England will bend over for Swedden...at least a draw. Trinidad will beat Paraguay and get nothing for it.

 

[SlowSilver]

England will win.

 

[TOON ARMY]

Rooney has been 100% fit for a while now. He fractured part of the metatarsal which heals three times quicker than a normal metatarsal injury. He just needs action now on the pitch. I expect he'll get about 60 minutes if not the whole match.

Nope, not at all, Shifty*eritz. Most pundits are pleased we are seeing him start. That way we can really judge what he's like.

 

[Da Kid]

A boring game that will end 0-0 :boohoo:

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

I really don't think it will be a boring game... this is a game to decide which team will grab the first place in the group, and... it's a Sweden vs England match!

 

[Da Kid]

Sweden wont take any risk because if they lose there is a "danger" from T n T