England drew with Sweden 2-2 on Tuesday 20 June 2006 at Cologne, Germany and so qualified top of group B in the World Cup 2006. Click here to see the World Cup screen chart showing all the World Cup fixtures and results.

Jamie Carragher again stood in for the injured Gary Neville (calf injury) at right back. Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch were rested as they were on yellow cards but Frank Lampard (also on a yellow card) was risked in this final group game. England had already qualified for the second round but needed a win or a draw to qualify top of Group B. They got the result they needed but this was another game of two halves with England controlling the first half but then being second best in the second half. The England team (as predicted) was:
 

                                                          Paul Robinson

 
  Jamie Carragher                    John Terry                 Rio Ferdinand                     Ashley Cole
                                                                               (Sol Campbell 56)

  David Beckham (Capt)             Frank Lampard          Owen Hargreaves                Joe Cole
                                                                                                              

                                            Wayne Rooney             Michael Owen
                                            (Steven Gerrard 69)     (Peter Crouch 4)

Sweden's line was: Isaksson, Linderoth (D Andersson 90), Mellberg, Lucic, Edman, Ljungberg, Alexandersson, Kallstrom, Jonson (Wilhelmsson 55), Allback (Elmander 74), Larsson

                                               
                                       Owen injures his right knee while falling awkwardly
                 

Michael Owen looks like his World Cup is over after twisting his right knee after only one minute of the game and he had to be replaced in attack with Peter Crouch. Owen's scan on his knee on 21 June 2006 confirmed that he will not play again in the World Cup 2006.
 

                                             
               Joe Cole chests the ball up (pictured) and then volleys the ball into the net to the goalkeepers left
 

Joe Cole scored one of the individual goals of the tournament with a great volley from nearly 40 yards that swerved in the air to beat the goalkeeper to his left. England had other chance to score too but went in at half time 1-0 up.

In the second half Marcus Allback equalised early on by heading in a corner and then Sweden looked like winning the game - Sweden hit the woodwork twice and substitute Steven Gerrard was needed for a goal line clearance.

Against the run of play after 85 minutes Gerrard headed in a goal at the far post to give England a 2-1 lead but Sweden did not give up. On full time after a long throw in from the left, the ball went through England's defence and Henrik Larsson gratefully put the ball in the net to give Sweden the 2-2 draw.

There was also another injury concern for England in the match as Rio Ferdinand had to leave the field with a groin injury ten minutes into the second half and so Sol Campbell replaced him in the centre of defence.

England's second half performance was not exceptional and England need to play better and defend better against set plays. England have still not beaten Sweden in 38 years but are safely through to the second round of the World Cup and will face Ecuador on Sunday 25 June at 4pm BST.

Who played well: Joe Cole put in a top performance and scored one of the goals of the tournament. Wayne Rooney showed he is one of England's best players and could have scored another great goal in the first half. Owen Hargreaves played his best game for England in the defensive midfield role.

Who could have played better: The defence need to defend against set plays better. David Beckham was at fault for letting Allback in front of him for the first goal and Sol Campbell played well until he failed to clear a throw in to let in a weak second goal against England.

Please click here to see the full England squad and click here for the history on Wayne Rooney's injury.