Soccer: England unable to shake Swedish jinx

SWEDEN 1 ENGLAND 1

SAITAMA - Sweden produced a determined second-half display to hold England to a 1-1 draw in their opening World Cup group F match in Japan late last night, maintaining a jinx going back to 1968.

Midfielder Niclas Alexandersson cancelled out Sol Campbell's first-half effort for England, who faded after a strong opening and have now not beaten Sweden in their past 10 attempts.

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson will also be monitoring the fitness of his captain, David Beckham, who came off after 63 minutes, although he did not look to have suffered a recurrence of his foot injury.

The result was satisfactory for both sides, despite tournament favourites Argentina, whom England play next, winning 1-0 against Nigeria in the opening group F match.

England began by far the brighter of the two sides, roared on by a large contingent of supporters, who outsang their Swedish counterparts.

But their goal came from an unlikely source. Campbell had not scored in 46 previous internationals - although he did have a goal controversially ruled out against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

The burly defender met Beckham's pinpoint 24th-minute corner with an unstoppable header from six metres that left Sweden goalkeeper Magnus Hedman floundering.

Sweden, with fit-again Fredrik Ljungberg but missing captain Patrik Andersson because of a thigh injury, looked strangely subdued in the first half and hardly troubled England goalkeeper David Seaman.

Lars Lagerback's men were a different side in the second half and took the game to their opponents, gradually building up the pressure until England cracked after 59 minutes.

Right-back Danny Mills failed to control the ball and his desperate clearance fell to Alexandersson, who steadied himself before lashing the ball past Seaman from 20m.

Teddy Lucic tested the England keeper soon afterwards and should have given Sweden the lead after 65 minutes when played clean through by Henrik Larsson, but Seaman blocked superbly.

Eriksson removed Beckham, who did not look match fit, and brought on Kieron Dyer, another only just back from injury.

Michael Owen went close for England after that and Larsson struck a low shot narrowly wide for the Swedes, who deserved their point.

Argentina, the South American champions, did what Ireland and defending champions France could not manage in their cup openers - beat an African team.

The Argentines, among the favourites to win their third cup, dominated play and forced nine saves in their victory.

But goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu could not stop Gabriel Batistuta's angled header in the 63rd minute off a corner by Juan Sebastien Veron, the man of the match.

The African sides started sensationally when Senegal upset France 1-0 on the opening day and African champions Cameroon drew 1-1 with Ireland.

Argentina had their own reasons to worry. In 1990, when they were defending champions, they lost to Cameroon 1-0 in the opening match. Nigeria also edged them for the Olympic gold medal in 1996.

"I don't think this game defines us as favourites," Veron said, pointing to the strength of teams and the keen rivalries among the four in the first-round "Group of Death."

"The England game [on Friday] will be difficult. It's a classic."

It was the 56th goal in 76 national team appearances for Batistuta, who rose above team-mate Mauricio Pochettino at the far post to direct in Veron's corner.

It also was his 10th in a World Cup, bringing him to sixth on the all-time scoring list.

Only 10 players have scored 10 or more goals in World Cup history.

Until the eve of the game, coach Marcelo Bielsa had not said whether Batistuta or rival Hernan Crespo would start in the key central attack position.

Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde said: "We've lost, but the standard of the game was good."

In last night's other game, South Africa and Paraguay fought out a 2-2 draw in group B in Pusan, South Korea.

A last-minute penalty by Quinton Fortune earned South Africa a share of the points after they came back from 2-0 down.

A flying header by striker Roque Santa Cruz and a fiercely-struck free kick by Francisco Arce looked to have earned Paraguay a deserved victory.

But an own goal by Estanislao Struway gave South Africa hope and after Ricardo Tavarelli brought down Sibusio Zuma, Fortune held his nerve to convert the penalty, the first of the tournament.

Paraguay, who beat Brazil and drew twice with Argentina in qualifying matches, showed their attacking intent right from the start as the 20-year-old Santa Cruz had a penalty claim turned down after just 25 seconds.

The favourites in the group, Spain, beat newcomers Slovenia 3-1 early today. It was the first time in 52 years that Spain had won their opening match.

- AGENCIES

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