England's first World Cup 2006 game was played against Paraguay on 10 June 2006 at Frankfurt, Germany. England went 1-0 up early on and played well in the first half but had to defend for long periods of the second half. Click here to see the World Cup screen chart for all the World Cup 2006 results.

England's line up was:

 
                                                        Paul Robinson
                                                       
 
  Gary Neville                      Rio Ferdinand         John Terry                    Ashley Cole
                                                                            

 David Beckham (captain)        Steven Gerrard*         Frank Lampard            Joe Cole
                                                                                                                    (Owen Hargreaves 81)

                                       Michael Owen                Peter Crouch*
                                      (Stewart Downing 55)   

Subs not used:

The team from Paraguay was Villar (Bobadilla 7), Caniza, Gamarra (captain), Caceres, Toledo (Nunez 81), Bonet (Cuevaz 81), Acuna, Paredes, Riveros, Valdez*, Santa Cruz

* yellow card

The England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson started with the strongest team available as predicted.

                          
      Beckham takes the free kick and put the ball into the box where Gamarra heads it back into his own net

After three minutes of the match England went 1-0 ahead. From the left side David Beckham floated in a free kick and under pressure Carlos Gamarra got to the ball first but could only help it on into his own net. Three minutes later Justo Villar had to be replaced in goal for Paraguay after hurting his leg while clearing the ball into touch.

England were keeping the ball and playing well but their next best chance was on 22 minutes when Frank Lampard's long shot was saved well by the substitute goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla. Then three minutes from half time Beckham almost scored but his shot went just wide.

England controlled the first half but at the end of the half Nelson Valdez almost equalised for Paraguay with a good chance he put wide.

In the second half Paraguay started to push forward and England had to defend in their own half for most of the time. Michael Owen (forward) was replaced by Stewart Downing (left wing) after 55 minutes and England moved to a 4-4-1-1 formation with Joe Cole behind Peter Crouch up front.

After 59 minutes of the match against the run of play Joe Cole had a decent shot from outside the penalty area that was well saved. A minute later Parades chipped the ball over the bar after Robinson pushed out a cross from the right wing. Five minutes later Valdez ran down the right wing and had a shot on goal that went straight to Robinson.

The referee appeared to be harsh on Peter Crouch giving several decisions against him and Crouch also picked up a yellow card for dissent.

Lampard had a couple of chances to score late on but Bobadilla turned one shot over the bar and then saved well to his left to deny Lampard a goal.

England held off Paraguay's good play and possession at the end of the match and were relieved when the final whistle came.

Who played well:  Joe Cole had an excellent first half and was probably England's player of the match. Steven Gerrard played well in the holding midfield role and David Beckham had another great game giving a captain's performance.

Who could have played better: Ashley Cole had a mixed game and his mistake could have given Paraguay a goal at the end of the first half. Michael Owen was replaced early in the second half and was not on his best form. It was 30 degrees in the afternoon sun and several England players appeared to tire in the second half.

Click here to see the match preview

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