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| June 3, 2002 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 21,1423 |
England and Sweden play in hands of Argentina
Paraguay 2 South Africa 2
England 1 Sweden 1
Spain 3 Slovenia 1
YOKOHAMA (Japan), June 2: Favourites Argentina and under-achievers Spain got their World Cup campaigns off to bright starts Sunday but England faltered to a 1-1 draw with Sweden which left question marks over their further progress.
Argentina’s three points in group F, the toughest of the eight, looked even more valuable when England and Sweden later drew 1-1 in Saitama, Japan.
Spain, perennial under-achievers at the World Cup, made their first winning start in 52 years in Kwangju, South Korea, with a 3-1 victory over Slovenia.
In the day’s other group B match in Pusan, South Korea, South Africa fought back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Paraguay.
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 last 10 attempts in Saitama.
England began by far the brighter, roared on from behind by a large contingent of supporters who outsung 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 due to 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 20 metres.
Teddy Lucic tested the England goalkeeper 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 in the 63rd minute who did not look match fit, and brought on Kieron Dyer.
Michael Owen went close for England after that and Larsson struck a low shot narrowly wide for the Swedes who deserved their point.
Gabriel Batistuta repaid the faith placed in him by coach Marcelo Bielsa with a 63rd minute header as the newly installed Cup favourites made a winning start in Ibaraki, Japan.
Senegal’s shock 1-0 win over champions France on Friday’s first day of Asia’s first World Cup led to a swift revision of the odds with Argentina now the tournament favourites.
Batistuta, 33, picked ahead of rival Hernan Crespo, rose high to head the winner and enter an exclusive club of 10 players who have scored 10 or more World Cup goals.
Argentina launched wave after wave of attack with Juan Sebastian Veron showing some delightful touches in the midfield.
Batistuta twice went close to scoring, heading just wide in the first half and firing just wide of the post in the second.
Finally a deep Veron corner floated towards the far post and Batistuta soared above team mate Mauricio Pochettino to score.
After 55 minutes of Sunday’s group B game Paraguay looked on cruise control after goals from Roque Santa Cruz and Francisco Arce gave them a comfortable cushion.
But instead of meekly surrendering, South Africa rolled up their sleeves and hit back.
They reduced the deficit after 63 minutes when Teboho Mokoena’s shot was deflected into his own net by Estanislao Struway and continued to press forward looking for the equaliser.
Paraguay visibly tired and sat deeper and deeper, ultimately paying the price when Sibusiso Zuma got behind them in the last minute and was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Ricardo Tavarelli.
Quinton Fortune thumped in the penalty and in injury time it was Paraguay hanging on for the draw.
Raul opened the score a minute before the break when he latched on to a loose ball and poked it through a defender’s legs into the net.
Juan Carlos Valeron made it two in the 74th minute, finding free space on the right of the box and side-footing home. Fernando Hierro scored from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Slovenia had grabbed a consolation goal through Sebastjan Cimirotic in the 82nd.
It was the first time that Spain had won their opening game at the World Cup finals since 1950.—Reuters
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