England v Paraguay

Wednesday, Anfield, kick-off 2000 BST.

Live coverage on BBC Radio Five Live and extended highlights on BBC1.

Sven-Goran Eriksson is urging his England side to show some fire when they take on Paraguay.

Since qualifying for the World Cup, England have drawn with Sweden and the Netherlands, and lost to Italy.

We must be very quick at changing from defending to attacking

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson

"This is the last game we play in England before leaving the country for the World Cup, so I should like to see a little bit of fire on the pitch - even if it is a friendly."

After spending 13 years in Italian football Eriksson will renew his acquaintance with the Paraguay's Italian coach Cesare Maldini.

"I expect a very competitive game, they are physically strong and technically very good," said the England chief.

"And of course, like all South American teams, they are very quick to break."

That ability to counter-attack quickly is a quality that Eriksson wants England to rediscover.

"For the team we have, we must be very quick at changing from defending to attacking.

"If we can do that, with good quality passes, we are a very good team.

We have good passers, we have very quick players, so I think you should use that.

"It's nothing new for me, I've always liked that kind of football."

While Michael Owen gets to wear the captain's armband, the game will see Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer play an international match for the first time in 17 months.

He has yet to feature in an England side managed by Eriksson.

In defence the game is also likely to be the last chance for Martin Keown - called in as Sol Campbell's replacement - to secure a place in Eriksson's World Cup squad.

Tough opponents

Maldini believes that if England's injury victims - David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Emile Heskey and Sol Campbell - can recover then Eriksson's side will do well in Korea and Japan.

Jansen and Dyer will be out to impress Eriksson

"As long as they get the main players to go to the World Cup, they will be a very good team," said Maldini.

"England are managed very well by Eriksson.

"But they must be at their best because they are in a very difficult group.

"If I had to rate England, I would put them among the four favourites to win the World Cup with Argentina, Italy and France."

The England game is part of Maldini's programme to get the South Americans fighting fit in time for the big kick-off.

"I asked to play against the toughest opponents in Europe," he said.

"We still have to play against Sweden, and that will be a tough match. But that is what I wanted."