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England staked a second claim for participating in the worst game of the tournament as they drew nil-nil with Nigeria in oppresive heat in Osaka, but it didn't matter at all as the millions of fans who watched back home rejoiced as one to celebrate the prospect of a match against Denmark on Saturday lunchtime. Sven stuck with the same starting line up that beat Argentina, save Trevor Sinclair, who replaced the injured Owen Hargreaves. Nigeria made four changes, Jay Jay Okocha playing his last international and Arsenal's Nwankwo Kanu out injured.
The first quarter of an hour saw both sides jostling for control of the game. Neither seemed to be able to stamp their authority on the match as Beckham wasted a couple of good opportunities and England were given the first glimpse of Julius Aghahowa's pace when he swept a ball across the six-yard box. Then on 16 minutes the first real worry as Ashley Cole slipped and Aghahowa cruised into the box, left midfielder Trevor Sinclair covering superbly to slide the ball out of play when a mistimed challenge would have brought a certain penalty.
Two minutes later and the ball was on the other foot as Danny Mills hared down the England right with Beckham moving into a more central position. Mills crossed dangerously and sent the ball into the Nigerian area, where Emile Heskey got in ahead of his marker and just conected with the ball send it agonisingly wide of the post. The 19-year-old goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama flapped at the resulting David Beckham corner, but no-one in a red shirt was in a position to capitalise.
Halfway throught the first period, Rio Ferdinand proved just why former Liverpool and Scotland centre-half Alan Hansen had dubbed him world-class when he tackled Aghahowa when the front man was ready to shoot on goal. Just before the half hour the striker was in a dangerous position yet again as Jay Jay Okocha whipped a free-kick into the box and Seaman spilled. Aghahowa was quick to get to the ball but Sol Campbell and Danny Mills were in close attendance and the forward could not direct his shot on goal.
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Five minutes later Michael Owen burst through into the Nigerian area, but his deflected shot skewed away amazingly, and to the disgust of the England players, for a goal kick and not a corner. On 36 minutes Benedict Akwuegbu broke into the England box dangerously and cut in behind Campbell, but thankfully David Seaman was at his near post to palm away for a corner. Aghahowa and Okocha then attempted shots but to no avail before England ended the half strongly.
David Beckham delivered superbly with five minutes to go, but no-one could get their head to the ball. Michael Owen collected fifteen yards out and struck at goal, but the ball rebounded out to Nicky Butt on the edge of the box who could only fire over the crossbar. Cole and mills, the two full-backs, then shot at goal but only for their efforts to be easily cleared. Then, the most unfortunate moment of the game, but also one of great skill. Paul Scholes shot at goal from 25 yards, and his swerving attempt was going straight for the top corner. However, Enyeama had other ideas in between the sticks and pushed the shot onto the right post and away to safety.
After half-time, Ferdinand made his only mistake of the game, slipping whern Campbell underhit a simple ball towards him, to let Aghahowa through on goal. Campbell and Mills were able to pair up on the right to avert the danger as the striker prepared to shoot. A the other end, Beckham did not have his shooting boots on and his free-kick from 30 yards drifted out of play. Ferdinand in the England half was continuing to keep Aghahowa at bay on numerous occasions, without the Nigerian getting a shot in.
Just before the hour mark, it was the English turn to attack, and Heskey sent the ball across the face of goal, only to see Owen's lunge end up just short of getting to the ball. Successive Beckham free-kicks came to nothing and with just a quater of the game remaining, Sven Goran Eriksson sent on Teddy Sheringham for Heskey. With a quarter of an hour to go, Scholes quickly took a free-kick when it was just twenty yards out and well within Beckham territory. A couple of mionutes on, Sheringham skied a great chance after Owen had deflected Cole's cross into the box.
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Player Ratings (4-4-2):
David Seaman 7 - assured as usual, despite the competition, there is not a better player to have in goal at the moment when you know a clean sheet is all that is required to get through. Had plenty of long range shots to get behind, and only one breached him.
Danny Mills 8 - another excellent performance from the right back, who is threatening to take Gary Neville's place permenantly. Made vital tackles, covered well and attacked well on the wing, often in the place of a travelling Beckham.
Sol Campbell 7 - decent game from the centre-back, who briefly had to cover Ferdinand for one mistake, but other than that, was quite quiet, just doing what was required.
Rio Ferdinand 9 - TLG Man Of The Match. Superb at the back, keeping Aghahowa out when many other defenders in the tournament would have made real errors. Able to cool the game down if neccessary and also bring the ball confidently out of defence. Maybe needs to be more threatening from set pieces, but other than that there can be no complaints.
Ashley Cole 7 - good, but still makes too many mistakes in defence. Can lose concentration, but did well to keep his temper in check and also attacked well, at one stage rolling a ball across the top of the crossbar from the left. Linked well with Sinclair. Replaced by Wayne Bridge (6) on 84 minutes.
David Beckham 6 - the captain was not as influential as he should have been. Distribution was not great, and he needed top stick more to the right-hand side. All of his drifting unsettled the team, but it wasn't a bad performance.
Paul Scholes 7 - better coming forward than previously. One superb shot on goal, mopped up well in midfield. Assured.
Nicky Butt 7 - another good display. Tackled well, supporting the under-fire defence. Even managed to get a couple of shots away, but more work is needed from him in that area on the training ground.
Trevor Sinclair 7 - still yet to put a foot wrong on the left hand side. Kieron Dyer will find getting the berth difficult. Links up really well with Ashley Cole in a partnership that has great potential for the next few years if the two can stay clear of injury.
Michael Owen 6 - keeps putting in all the hard work, but as of yet, no goals in this tournament. Could really do with one in the Second Round if England are get anywhere in this tournament. Replaced by Darius Vassell (6) on 77 minutes, who ran around manfully, and could have scored again when he just missed Beckham's free-kick.
Emile Heskey 6 - same again. Tries really hard, holds up the ball well, but is lacking the finish that will give him confidence in the latter stages. Replaced by Teddy Sheringham (6) on 68 minutes, who missed perhaps the best chance of the game, but still did well in other aspects.
Subs not used: Nigel Martyn, David James, Gareth Southgate, Martin Keown, Wes Brown, Kieron Dyer, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Robbie Fowler
Meanwhile, we were all cheered up by news that in Miyagi, Argentina were being knocked out of the competition. Claudio Lopez wasted a great first half chance, and Juan Pablo Sorin had a good header superbly saved by Magnus Hedman but at half time it was still 0-0. Argentin a continued to dominate after the break and Gabriel Batistuta also had a shot go wide.
Then, on 58 minutes after Anders Svensson was upended by Matias Almeyda the Southampton player promptly got up and struck the resulting free-kick sweetly into the left hand edge of the net and the Scandinavians were leading 1-0. Needing to score two goals to stay in the tournament, the Argentinians threw the kitchen sink at the Swedes adn Pablo Aimar and Javier Zanetti were desperately unlucky to see Hedman make great saves.
Eventually with just two minutes remaining, Ariel Ortega deservedly won a penalty when Mattias Jonson brought him down and the victim stepped up to take the spot-kick. Hedman saved his shot to his right, but substitute Hernan Crespo was first to the ball and forced it home. There was top be no second goal and Sweden qualified as group winners to face Senegal.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com