 Defensive rock Rio Ferdinand
snuffed out the Nigerian attack
to give England a double cause
for celebration in Osaka as
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side drew
0-0 to take their place in the
last 16.
The £35 million Manchester
United target enhanced his reputation
by almost single-handedly frustrating
the Super Eagles in a drab goalless
draw.
The result was enough to give England
a last clash with Denmark on Saturday,
with Sweden finishing level with Argentina
to top the group. It also means second favourites Argentina
follow holders France out of the competition
at the opening stage and heightens
hope that England may yet return from
the Far East as world champions.
In a largely disappointing contest,
Paul Scholes came closest to scoring
with a vicious first half shot which
Vincent Enyeama tipped onto a post
two minutes before the break. Substitute Teddy Sheringham also
wasted a good chance late on, but
Ferdinand deserves the plaudits for
an impressive display which denied
Nigeria when the Africans were in
the ascendancy.
England were in hesitant mood, not
quite sure whether to go forward in
search of a goal or keep things tight
at the back and keep the clean sheet
which would give them a place in the
last 16. As a result, they conceded territory
and possession to Nigeria, with midfield
playmaker Jay Jay Okocha dictating
play. However, whenever Nigeria threatened,
Ferdinand was generally on hand to
tidy up the danger, although even
he would have been in trouble had
Julius Aghahowa headed Ifeanyi Udeze's
floated far post cross into the six-yard
box rather than back towards the penalty
spot.
Aghahowa was also found wanting when
David Seaman spilled an Okocha free-kick
at his near post, Sol Campbell pressurising
the Nigerian striker into lamely shooting
wide from an impossible angle. England were struggling then, with
Ashley Cole again struggling with
his defensive duties. Ironically, Cole and full-back partner
Danny Mills had looked England's most
potent attacking threats in the first
half hour and it took a Michael Owen
run from deep to spark the rest of
the team into life. The Liverpool striker, starved of
possession, collected the ball in
midfield, raced past Joseph Yobo then
produced a shot which might have worried
19-year-old goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama
had it not flicked off Yobo's foot.
Amazingly, England were denied a
corner by American referee Brian Hall,
and they also finished empty handed
two minutes from the break when Paul
Scholes came closest to breaking the
deadlock with his thunderbolt effort
which rebounded off a post.
Eriksson resisted the temptation
to make changes at the interval but
it was Nigeria who started brightly
after the break. Sol Campbell sold Ferdinand short
with a weak pass and danger man Aghahowa
nipped in to seize possession and
race into the box. However, the Shakhtar Donetsk striker
couldn't produce a shot with his left
foot and after cutting inside Ferdinand,
saw the space disappear amid a crowd
of England defenders and was robbed. Ferdinand whipped the ball away from
Aghahowa's feet again when the Super
Eagles threatened but Beckham couldn't
take advantage at the other end, firing
a free-kick over the top after Trevor
Sinclair had been bundled over.
Once again Ferdinand was called on
to deny Aghahowa a scoring chance
before England moved the ball upfield
and Heskey produced a cross which
Owen just failed to reach as he slid
in. Sheringham was thrown on for Heskey
midway through the second period,
with Eriksson clearly hoping the veteran
Tottenham man could give England's
attacking play a more measured approach.
There was no immediate sign of a
change in tempo, with Nigeria continuing
to force the pace, leaving England
to threaten on brief forays forward. Yobo fired a free-kick harmlessly
over the bar not long after Scholes
had driven his way into the opposition
penalty area.
Scholes then inexplicably rolled
a quick free-kick harmlessly into
the penalty area while Beckham was
preparing to produce one of his specials. Sheringham volleyed over from a good
position after Owen had flicked Cole's
cross into his path but it was to
be Owen's last involvement as Darius
Vassell was given his chance 14 minutes
from time.
But as Nigeria's threat finally started
to wane, the game petered out with
Wayne Bridge coming on to relieve
Ashley Cole at left-back, and as the
seconds counted down, England were
through.
England
David Seaman, Danny Mills,
Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Ashley
Cole (Wayne Bridge 84), David Beckham
(capt), Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes,
Trevor Sinclair, Emile Heskey (Teddy
Sheringham 68), Michael Owen (Darius
Vassell 77).
Nigeria
Vincent Enyeama, Joseph
Yobo, Isaac Okoronkwo, Ifeanyi Udeze,
Efetobore Sodje, Justice Christopher,
Jay-Jay Okocha (capt), James Obiorah,
Julius Aghahowa, Benedict Akwuegbu,
Femi Opabunmi (Pius Ikedia 86).
Attendance: 44,864.
Referee: Brian Hall (USA). |
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