 | Team News |  | Player Profiles | | Fixtures | | Betting | | Mobile |  |
Ecuador News
Latest News / Squad / Team Profile / Player Profiles / Betting / Results
Sven's secret
24/06/2006: In one of the worst kept secrets in football Sven-Goran Erikkson will give a World Cup debut to Michael Carrick in a five-man midfield in England's last sixteen game against Ecuador on Sunday afternoon.
Although refusing to admit it in public Sven's face at his various news conferences suggest the line-up has been leaked to the press.
In a move seen by many as perverse, Eriksson will lose his best defender Jamie Carragher and instead play Owen Hargreaves in the right-back position and installing Carrick in an unfamiliar holding midfield role.
The move will see the semi-fit Wayne Rooney plow a lone furrow up front as the only striker with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard given more freedom to rove forward.
So, instead of doing the brave thing and ridding the side of the ineffective Lampard and Beckham, the man earmarked as the scapegoat for the poor display against Sweden is the dependable Jamie Carragher.
The Swede said: "The knockout stages of World Cup 2006 are about courage. It is life or death. You stay in Germany if you win or you are back home if you lose. Yes, it is about courage.
"But all in our camp are extremely inspired by Sunday. We know we have a good team, we know we have a good chance to go a long way in this World Cup."
Eriksson is aware that defeat will bring to an end his five years in charge of England.
He said: "The fact it is potentially my last game does not affect my approach at all. I have never thought Sunday will be last game. I have never even dreamt about that.
"I am confident in this squad. I not taking more risks but I said before the World Cup that we have more options than four years ago and I stand by that.
"We have a lot of players in the squad who could easily play in the first X1, much more than four years ago and even more than two years ago in Portugal."
Germany walked through to the quarter final stage with a convincing victory over a poor Sweden scoring two early goals in the 2-0 victory which was made easier by Sweden having ex-Leeds United player Teddy Lucic sent off late in the first half.
Argentina drew 1-1 with Mexico in normal time before Maxi Rodriguez scored the goal of the tournament midway through the first period of extra-time setting up a tie against the hosts in World Cup 2006 on June 30.
World Cup Mobile
 Real Tones | ||
| 1 | Spider Pig Song  |  |
| 2 | Snuggle Bunny Song | |
| 3 | Silence I Kill You | |
| 4 | Peter Laughing | |
| Sound Effects | ||
| 5 | Mosquito | |
| Games | ||
| 6 | FIFA World Cup(TM) | |
| 7 | Soccer Pinball | |
| 8 | UEFA EURO 2008 | |
| Animations | ||
| 9 | Euro 2008 | |
| Backgrounds | ||
| 10 | Euro 2008 | |
| Polyphonic | ||
| 11 | The Great Escape | |
| 12 | Mission Impossible | |
| 13 | James Bond | |
| 14 | Exorcist Theme (Tubular Bells) | |
| 15 | Benny Hill | |
Comments on: Sven's secret
Write your own comment:Latest Ecuador News
Coach remains positive (14/06/2006)
Defender reveals Spanish interest (18/06/2006)
Neville out until July (19/06/2006)
Klinsmann sticks by striker selection (20/06/2006)
Owen's World Cup agony (21/06/2006)