Ecuador on High, England still searching and Sweden almost there

I was out for the weekend (friend’s place) so could not update. Thursday saw Ecuador thrashing Costa Rica 3-0 and guaranteeing their place in last 16 and closing out any mathematical window Poland had to qualify. Ecuador seems like a team which can cause an upset or two so watch out England and Sweden.

In match two England showed yet another disappointing effort but went on to win 2-0. Peter crouch who seemed like can never score broke the deadlock with Beckham’s cross and then Gerrard struck a thunderbolt to give England an unbeatable lead. But full credit or maybe not to Trinidad and Tobago that kept England on check and frustrated them for almost entire the match by keeping almost everyone behind the ball, a tactic which in my view doesn’t take a team anywhere. England have qualified for the second round and now will play against Sweden to determine who will end up on top, though even a draw is enough for England.

In the last game Sweden’s Freddie Ljungberg scored a late goal to earn three points against Paraguay and secured their place in second round. Sweden started in a positive fashion and created majority of chances though Paraguay were happy to sit back and hit on counter. Sweden should have scored atleast once in first half but failed. In second half Paraguay started strongly but Sweden proved to be a stronger side and it was Ljungberg who scored late with a header to Give Sweden three points from a match which was heading for a disappointing draw.