The England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson has said that Emile Heskey will certainly start England's first World Cup game against Sweden on June 2, 2002.

Heskey has not scored for England since they won 5-1 away in Germany but he has started on the left side of midfield a lot since then. Eriksson said "whether it is up front, to the left or to the right, he will play".

Seeing as Darius Vassell has scored three goals in five games for England, he may well start up front with Michael Owen. Emile Heskey will therefore probably start on the left wing where no other England squad player has performed very well recently.

There is a chance that Heskey will start on the right wing if David Beckham is not risked in this game but Owen Hargreaves may be stronger on the right flank (if Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes start in central midfield).

If Eriksson goes for a more defensive line up then Vassell may be sacrificed with Heskey starting in attack. Heskey is a big powerful player and should be able to hold the ball up well up front (the position he often plays with Michael Owen for his club team, Liverpool).

Eriksson's assistant, Tord Grip watched Sweden's 1-1 draw with Japan and said that it was important to win the game "but we can manage with a draw. We can't afford to lose though."