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Gerrard set to start
09/06/2006: England's talismanic should-be captain Steven Gerrard came through training unscathed on Friday and looks set to be in the starting line-up named by Sven-Goran Eriksson for England's opening game of World Cup 2006.
Subject to no further reaction, the Liverpool captain will start in whatever midfield combination Eriksson decides to use.
The England coach said: "Everyone is fit. Steven Gerrard trained very well and should be on the pitch tomorrow if there is no reaction to his back injury overnight."
The midfielder had been rated 50-50 after complaining of back spasms and had to sit out training on Thursday.
Having come through an extra warm up supervised by assistant coach Steve McClaren Gerrard joined the rest of the squad for a full training session.
"He did everything except some crosses, the Swede continued.
Eriksson hopes to make amends for the near misses England have suffered in previous tournaments.
"I know statistically before I came that the first game in big tournaments was not always in favour of England.
"It will be tomorrow."
The coach who will be leaving the job straight after World Cup 2006 believes his players are capable of handling the pressure of playing on the world stage.
"They have a lot of experience, a lot of players are winning trophies and I think they can handle it.
"I strongly believe we are one of five or six teams who can win the World Cup 2006, and nothing has changed.
"I think we can do better than four years ago, or two years ago."
Knowing that England will be backed by nearly 40,000 fans Eriksson added: "They have always helped the team, always helped us. They have been fantastic since I came here and 40,000? That's a lot, they could fill the stadium.
"Wherever you go in Germany they will always have fans. It's very good."
The Swede just wants the first game out of the way: "I think I feel the same as the players. We have been preparing for a long time, we can't wait. We want it to begin tomorrow."
It seems likely both Peter Crouch and Michael Owen will start against Paraguay.
He added: "They are completely different as footballers and will create problems for any team in the world today.
"They're a good couple and I don't think it's just a case of goals they have scored together."
Eriksson refused to underestimate the threat from the South Americans: "On paper and if you ask football fans or experts, they would say Sweden is more difficult than Paraguay but I don't think that just because I'm Swedish.
"But you have to pay attention to Paraguay, they have experience and good strikers and it will not be easy tomorrow, and Paraguay have the chance to be in the top two of the group."
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