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Saturday, 10 November, 2001, 14:40 GMT
Satisfied with Sven's men?
Sven Goran Eriksson's native Sweden romped to victory in their qualification group
England start their World Cup preparations with a 1-1 draw against Sweden in Saturday's friendly at Old Trafford.

How did you rate England's performance?

HAVE YOUR SAY

With Korea and Japan only seven months away, the jostling for a place in England's World Cup squad has begun.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson picked a 26-man squad with few surprise inclusions.

On the day, Kevin Phillips started up front with Emile Heskey, with Trevor Sinclair gaining his first cap playing on the left.

Captain David Beckham scored first for England, only for Hakan Mild to equalise for Sweden after Nigel Martyn failed to hold an Erik Edman free-kick.

The second half saw Eriksson ring the changes, sending on Danny Murphy, Darren Anderton, Robbie Fowler and Danny Mills. Were you convinced by England's performance? And did the boys in white do enough to earn their place in England's World Cup squad?

HAVE YOUR SAY



Martyn is a class keeper, and still has great ability and presence
Craig, England

To blame Nigel Martyn is ridiculous - you don't expect the wall to jump out of the way, so he did well to get to the shot at all. It's time to dispense with the Nevilles, who are obviously only picked because they play for Man Utd. Danny Mills is faster, fitter and hungrier than Gary. As for Phil, can anybody explain why he's even in the squad?
Mark Russell, Bristol, UK

Why are people so worried about having Martyn in goal. They seem to be forgetting that his save against Greece was as important as Beck's Goal at the end. Martyn is a class keeper, and still has great ability and presence.
Craig, England

I notice a number of comments for and against Nigel Martyn. He did well to even reach the ball. I can't believe some of the criticism below or from Alan Hanson on Match of the Day or the critic on Breakfast News. If they knew anything about goalkeeping, it was the wall's fault. I doubt Wright would have done any better.
David Bellerby, England

Nice to see Sven has finally found a way to stop everyone complaining about the "troubled" left side of the team...by playing Anderton and Phil Neville together, that side of the team was so bad we will be happy if he plays a one-legged dog in the next match! It says a lot for Anderton when the nicest comment the BBC commentator could make about him was that "He's at the stage of his career when he'd probably prefer to play in the centre". In truth, he's at the stage of his career when most of us would prefer to see him playing for another team.

Sheringham should start ahead of Heskey, his touch and awareness is far superior to anything Heskey produces. Mills and Murphy both looked comfortable and played well. Phillips deserves more chances, his work-rate was second only to Beckham and he won't need a four-yard tap-in against Albania to score for England. Not good enough to win anything yet, but getting there.
Stu, England


Why does he always have the Chuckle brothers (Phil and Gary) in the squad?
Richard Marsden, England

Does Gary Neville get picked purely because he is Beckham's best mate, 'cos time and again he has played people onside for England recently, he is sluggish and should definitely be replaced by a vibrant Danny Mills or even a Carragher. I feel sorry for Carragher who because of his versatility is played at left back when he is naturally right footed and then he is expected to run down the left flank and deliver crosses on his weaker side. Would we expect Ashley Cole to deliver crosses on his right foot from the right flank ? I think not.
Ian Raisbeck, England

Why does he always have the Chuckle brothers (Phil and Gary) in the squad and also Nicky Butt, when game after game they prove thery ae not good enough.
Richard Marsden, England

I wonder how many more starts and chances Heskey is going to get. The luxury of starts he has been given have not borne fruit. I think its time to re-think our attacking strategy with the wealth of quality at Sven's disposal. As we know from past experience, we can not always rely on Owens fitness.
Dennis, England

Drawing and losing games helps keep England's feet on the ground and spot improvements to the team. Achieving storming wins in our friendlies leading up to the World Cup will fool us into thinking we can win the competition with ease!
Simon Clack, England


Seaman and Martyn are getting too old, bring in Richard Wright!
Stephen Cambridge, UK

It's about time David Dunn got his chance to shine in an England shirt. He set Division One alight last season with his performances and he is doing it again in the Premiership. If he had been playing for one of the so called "glamour" clubs he would already be an established international.So Sven solve your last remaining problem, pick Dunn on the left and go and win the World Cup for us all.
Jonathan Kay, UK

Danny Mills should replace Gary Neville at right back, he plays with more passion... Also Wayne Bridge should be given a chance a left back, rather than Ashley Cole who is not a defender.
Stephen Mills, England

I do not know why Sven did not pick Richard Wright to start in goal for the friendly against Sweden. Everybody knows that Wright is a potential England goalkeeper. He is 24 years old now and it is time he got more caps for England and experience in international fixtures. Remember that he is the most likely person to become England's goalkeeper in the future. Seaman and Martyn are getting too old, bring in Richard Wright!
Stephen Cambridge, UK

I think we showed that Chris Sutton is the best man to partner either Owen or Phillips up front. With Sutton providing the chances, England will score a lot of goals. Why won't Sven pick him, is it because Becks doesn't like him?
Michael, UK


Neither of these teams will make any impact in the World Cup playing like this
Jamie Bayly, UK

Why do we always blame the goalkeeper? I think Nigel Martyn is a very good goalkeeper. A goalkeeper can't expect to cover for the mistakes of others..in this instance the wall..why do we always tend to jump in recent times?
Anand Koth, UK

Is this enough to stop England fans (and principally the English press) thinking that they can win the World Cup? One decent result against a team far past their best should not overshadow the fact that Eriksson has yet to produce a result against a team of real quality. Once England come up against someone truly world class - France, Argentina et al - they will be exposed for the barely competent journeymen that they are.
Matt Trainer, England

Woeful. Neither of these teams will make any impact in the World Cup playing like this. A couple of missing players is no excuse either, the chances of all your top team being fit at the same time are slim at best. England seem only to have one effective method of attack, the diagonal long ball from Beckham. Murphy added a little in the second half, but the whole team still lacks attacking options. Perhaps David Dunn deserves an outing on the left. Any world class right back will love playing against Sinclair on the left... Which way is he going?...Oh he's turned onto his right foot again...
Jamie Bayly, UK.

England have not had a decent goalkeeper since the days of Peter Shilton and Gordon Banks. Nigel Martyn does not know how to stop the ball going into the net at the easiest of times, David Seaman is past it and Richard Wright never gets the chance to impress anybody in an England shirt. How is he supposed to get the confidence if he doesn't get the chance to play.
William O'Reilly, England


Phillips is another Clive Allen - lots of good goals in the league but not an international
Mark Corder, England

A nice game by England. Created the best chances for goals, however unsuccessfully. The penalty was quite lucky but instead you didn't get a penalty in the end when Edman got the ball on his arm. A fair result for both teams.
Pär Gustavsson, Sweden

People cannot have it both ways - if other non-regular players are to be given a chance (Phillips, Sinclair, Carragher, Murphy et al) then you cannot expect a great performance when they have not played together before. If Sven had simply chosen his best 11, barring injuries, there would be those moaning about Phillips not getting a fair crack. As it happens, Phillips is another Clive Allen - lots of good goals in the league but not an international. I've never seen a goalkeeper make so many one-off mistakes that costs goals in every game than with Nigel Martyn. I think that despite his age, David Seasman is still dependable.
Mark Corder, England

It is all well and good blaming Nigel Martyn for his "error". But where I come from, walls DON'T jump!
Broff, England

We missed Ashley Cole attacking down the left and of course Owen upfront. It seems like they and David Beckham are the players we cannot afford to lose through injury. Sinclair did OK, I think Rio needs a constant partner at centre back, I would like to see Ledley King given a chance.
Matt, England


Why did they jump? The wall took off and a well planned move by Sweden cost England the game
Tony Gomersall, Canada

I'm thinking that England's penalty wasn't a penalty. Sweden should have won this match! Go Sweden!
Morgan, Sweden

England should have won handily. Fowler should have scored on either of his chances. Beckham was "man of the match", never stopped trying. Neville still can't pass the ball and Mills is better going forward. Why did they jump? The wall took off and a well planned move by Sweden cost England the game. Was it a rehearsed jump? Someone needs to ask the question as it will happen again! Overall a good run out for England and a lot better 2001 than 2000. England into the Final four in Japan. Argentina for the World Cup.
Tony Gomersall, Canada

Time to make your mind up Sven then let your World Cup team play together in the next few friendlies. Once again unfortunately a woeful display due to lack of natural talent and team practice.
Peter, Thailand / UK

Ha, ha, England can´t beat Sweden at their own home arena! And don´t forget that Sweden's key players didn´t play! And the English goal shouldn´t even be a goal! Everyone can see that Andersson did not even touch Sinclair! The only one in England who looked like he knew what he was doing there was David Beckham. And of course the Swedish players...
Emma, Sweden


Once again England play without Michael Owen and draw
Nicole Taylor, England

Everyone's being a bit rash aren't they? I wouldn't expect a side without Gerrard and Owen to be as good offensively, and anyone that thinks Phillips is a worthy replacement obviously knows nothing about football. Likewise for Sweden, you can't expect to win against decent opposition with two of your best players missing. Trevor Sinclair was alright, but not really the answer, I still think Ashley Cole should have a go on the left midfield and then Murphy could plug the leftback slot. At times England played well today, nice to see Scholes back in form as well, and also good to see Andy Cole now some way down the pecking order.
Alex Allen, England

Once again England play without Michael Owen and draw. Let's hope he's fit for the World Cup or England have no chance. Danny Murphy did great and definitely deserves a place in next year's WC finals.
Nicole Taylor, England

Hmmm...Sinclair. I'm still not convinced he's our left sided answer. Scholes looked a lot sharper. I think Phillips worked hard, and his off the ball movement was good. I think he had few chances. On balance I think he will play again, as a later sub. Beckham's drive and fire appears to remain undiminished. Only an exceptional save prevented an excellent freekick from creeping in. Murphy was superb in his short time on the field, and showed much maturity. He deserves a starting place in the next match.
Richard, UK

Whereas the overall team performance was commendable, Nigel Martyn once more betrayed that streak of carelessness that saw Romania humble England in Euro 2000. Making daring one-on-one saves one moment and then following them with gaffe that would shame keepers in the Nationwide League is a weakness he's failed to overcome. And because of this, David Seaman looks likely to play for England till he's 50! Exit Seaman, enter Richard Wright.
Emmanuel Bagenda, Uganda


Danny Murphy was very impressive and should be an England regular now
James, England

Let's remember - this was an experimental friendly for both sides. Don't jump to any conclusions about the World Cup.
Lars Erik, Sweden

Not very exciting, but it wasn't supposed to be, another experiment match from Sven. Interesting however, Danny Murphy was very impressive and should be an England regular now. Also Mills should be played more. Phillips still can't quite fit in and looks unfavourably compared to his competition. Good possession and passing throughout the second half but we need a bit more conviction
James, England

Sweden might as well not turn up for the World Cup because that performance shows that we have no chance of glory in Japan.
Bob, Sweden

Very disappointing, only a friendly but even so, not really good enough from England, typical story, go one goal up concede one then nothing!
Peter, England


Andersson didn't even touch Sinclair!
Tobias Lidman, Sweden

Are England ready for what is to come? Can't even beat Sweeden at home! I think Phillips certanly proved he deserves to be in the squad.
Trevor, USA

I have to say that the quality of game is bad. Both teams stand no chance in the World Cup with this kind of playing. I'm very disappointed. England had a five minute period right after subs came on but this is bad football. Beckham should keep his position at far right. Sinclair sucks, Heskey's too slow and Butt is far too defensive. Mills is however a nice surprise and Murphy too. Phillips has proved that he is a fine striker and he deserves second chance. Get your act together, Sweden and England!!
Dean, Sweden

Andersson did NOT foul Sinclair! Oh well... I know there is nothing to do now but... I mean, Andersson didn't even touch Sinclair! But, misjudgements happend, and they happend both ways...at least the score is 1-1 now. And whichever team wins, Sweden wins - either our team, or Sven-Göran!
Tobias Lidman, Sweden

Why does Heskey always start and do nothing?
Dave Smith

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