England Team: Robinson, A.Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Carragher(Lennon 58), Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, J.Cole(Downing 75), Crouch, Owen(Rooney 58).

Trinidad & Tobago Team: Hislop, Edwards, Sancho, Lawrence, Gray, Jones(Glen 70), Yorke, Birchall, Whitley, Theobald(Wise 80), John.

Match Report: After a more than jittery start to the 2006 World cup in their first group match with Paraguay, England had the chance to put that right and boost morale with a win over Trinidad & Tobago. Trinidad, however were bouyed by their excellent point from their game with Sweden and would no doubt do their best to upset the rhythm of England.

Carragher was in for England at right back, deputising for the injured Neville, and Wayne Rooney was on the bench, pronounced fit and ready for action. A huge and vocal England following dwarfed the numbers of the T&T fans.

A cagey opening to the game saw first Beckham, then Lampard and Gerrard in turn, dropping deep to recieve the ball off the back four, presumably to dictate play. Their choice of ball on every occasion was long. Either cross field, or down the centre, but always long.

Most of the T&T players deal with balls like this on a regular basis when playing their club football, so it was no surprise that they suffered little hardship in either heading balls clear, or marking tight to give no space when the ball did reach it's target.

Lampard had an early opportunity to shoot, and hit the target, with Hislop pushing the ball out at Owen, who could not take the rebound in his stride. A chance, but not an easy one.

As England enjoyed plenty of the early possession, they began to test out the flanks, with the two Coles, Ashley & Joe combining on the left and Carragher trying his best to support Beckham on the right. Carragher did find space to run into on a couple of occasions, but didn't seem to know how to exploit it.

A cross field ball from Lampard was chest trapped by Joe Cole, who then put in his namesake to cross from the left, only for Beckham to have his header deflected over. Ferdinand headed back across goal, after staying upfield for the corner, but Crouch reacted slowly and was easily beaten by Sancho.

The T&T midfield had by now spread like a blanket accross the pitch, in front of their solid back four, inviting the English to either go over it, or pass through it. England again favoured the aerial option. Lawrence and Sancho lapped up these balls, and in front of them Yorke and Whitley were always an available option to pick up the second ball, and generally use their own possession wisely, without really threatening the England goal.

From wide, Joe Cole, who was again looking to carry the ball and attack defenders, almost got Crouch in at the back post, but the big man was stretching and could not get enough on the shot to worry Hislop.

Lampard saw a speculative 40 yard effort drift wide. Owen looked to play on the last man, and his movement was generally good, but he struggled to get clear of tight marking. Still the long balls came.

Lampard, boom. Gerrard biff. Beckham kapow.

As the T&T defenders seemed to be fairly comfortable, their midfielders became more inclined to sortie up the pitch into England territory. Ferdinand looked uneasy under pressure from Stern John in the air and headed over for a corner. Yorke's dead ball kick was missed by Robinson, and John almost got in at the back post under pressure from Terry.

In a lively period just before half time, Terry was beaten to a long ball by Jones who shot over the bar. It was a warning not to get complacent.

Owen produced a deft touch in the box to control a long ball that came over his shoulder, his lay off to Lampard on the penalty spot deserved a shot on target, but Lamps couldn't oblige.

Then Beckham, who's supply had been far from his usual standard, produced a perfect cross that took out the defence to find Crouch unmarked 10 yards out. Crouch's attempted volley endangered the linesman far more than the T&T net.

At the other end, Edwards's cross was headed over by Beckham for another corner. Yorke's cross again created havoc and Robinson again failed to gather, Stern John attacked the ball as Rio Ferdinand appeared to cower below him, and the ball seemed goalbound until Terry's last ditch intervention brought a goal line clearance.

An unsatisfactory end to an unsatisfactory half for England, with T&T delighted to go in at 0-0 and probably thinking "We can win this".

Half Time: England 0 Trinidad & Tobago 0

The second half started with England again deploying the Howitzers of Beckham, Lampard and Gerrard. Lawrence & Sancho got back to heading practice.

The T&T midfield were now starting to pass the ball about a bit more and be a bit more adventurous, with Whitley tireless in his work. They were also closing down well, something that England had not been prepared to do.

The crowd could see it too, they began whistling their disapproval, and a chant of "Roooooooneyyyy" rumbled around. Then came a near catastrophe for England as Birchall's excellent pass down the middle looked for all the world to have split England asunder. John Terry again saved England with a splendid tackle on Jones. Surely a wake up call.

Then came two chances at the other end. Joe Cole executed a nice backheel from Ashley's pass, which Crouch tried to flick up and bicycle kick. Not a pretty sight.

Beckham again produced an accurate centre, this time from a free kick, and Owen drifted away from his marker to the back post. He was perhaps stretching a bit, but his uncontested header did not hit the target. That would be his last touch of this game.

Eriksson decided to make changes. Lennon on for Carragher. Rooney on for Owen. The crowd showed how pleased they were to see Rooney, the English ones at least, with a great ovation.

England switched to a 3-5-2 with Beckham in a right wing back role, and immediately looked more threatening. Lennon was quickly into his stride, running at defenders and was soon attended by at least two markers wherever he went. Rooneys first action was to barrel straight down the middle into three T&T players. No fear. No worry of his dodgy digit.

Rooney then collected a ball in the hole and quickly spotted Ashley Cole's forward run to play an inch perfect ball and split the defence. Cole's cross from a good position was less than inch perfect. England seemed now to be lifted and more urgent for a victory.

Minutes later Beckham again found a good delivery for Crouch, but the header was tame and over the bar. He should have done a lot better. Lennon played Lampard in from a short corner, but again the shot from central was scooped over.

With all this attention payed to the T&T end of the pitch, there was the chance to counter attack. The pacy Cornell Glen, on as substitute, was thwarted by a great Joe Cole tackle. Glen then beat Ashley Cole all ends up and almost got clean through, only to be tackled back by Cole after Gerrard had surged back to help out. It still looked very uneasy for England.

Downing was introduced for Cole, and instantly produced a good ball for Crouch to attack, but his header was again weak. Then a neat little move instigated by Rooney and Crouch again gave Lampard a clear shot at goal. Again the same result. Frank had definitely left his shooting boots at home today. Then Ferdinand slipped a pass into the box for Lampard to have another go. Same result.

With less than ten minutes left, Beckham again produced a fine delivery for Crouch who this tim got above Sancho and headed home. A hint of a foul on Sancho? Who cares?

A huge collective sigh of relief by the England crowd, Sven and the players.

Then in the last minute Steven Gerrard, seemingly able now to express himself, sauntered up the pitch as he does so often for Liverpool, and smacked one in the corner with his Left foot. A superb strike Stevie, but why did you not think of doing something like that an hour and a half ago?

Trinidad & Tobago did have the ball in the goal after the restart as Glen again beat Ashley Cole to centre for the offside John.

A good result for England, but a far from good performance.

Full Time: England 2 Trinidad & Tobago 0

England Ratings: Robinson 4, A.Cole 4, Terry 7, Ferdinand 4, Carragher 5, Beckham 6, Lampard 5, Gerrard 6, J.Cole 6, Crouch 5, Owen 5
Subs: Rooney 7, Lennon 7, Downing 4

Trinidad & Tobago Ratings: Hislop 5, Edwards 5, Sancho 7, Lawrence 7, Gray 6, Jones 6, Yorke 7, Birchall 6, Whitley 7, Theobald 5, John 5.
Subs: Glen 7, Wise 5

Referee: T Kamikawa (Japan)7. This guy's second match of the tournament and another excellent performance. Keep up the good work and you may get the final.

Good: The crowd - England fans were in excellent voice and the T&T people were really enjoying a party atmosphere.
Qualifying for the next phase with a game to spare.

Bad: England booting the ball into the stratosphere at every opportunity. Rio Ferdinand looking as clueless as he is gormless. Ashley Cole's second half.

Ugly: He's ugly but he's back. Fear the Rooney.