England advance after dour draw
[ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2002 2:19:27 PM ]

OSAKA: An unconvincing England scraped through to the second round of the World Cup here Wednesday surviving the Group of Death with a dour 0-0 draw against Nigeria.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side advanced to a last 16 match against Group A winners Denmark in Niigata on Saturday but were never certain of the point they needed until the final whistle. Sweden won Group F after drawing 1-1 with Argentina.

Nigeria, already knocked out of the tournament and with nothing to play for other than pride, more than matched an English team who struggled to reproduce the form shown in last week's 1-0 victory over Argentina.

England coach Eriksson was nevertheless satisfied with the point.

"Our target was to qualify. That was very hot today, very difficult. But 0-0 is okay," Eriksson said. "We knew that the Nigerians would not want to lose and they would try to win. I think they played well.

"We had more chances than them but we didn't score today - let's hope we save that for Saturday," the Swede added. "The fact is that now we have to beat Denmark."

England captain David Beckham said the sweltering heat had made it difficult for his side.

"It was uncomfortable out there, just because of the heat as well," he said.

"Nigeria had a few chances but we defended pretty well. We had quite a few chances but didn't take them but we're happy with the draw at the end of the day," said Beckham adding that he was expecting a hard battle with Denmark.

"I think they're a bit like Sweden but we'll have to see, it will be a tough game.

England defender Rio Ferdinand said his side had achieved their goal of qualifying from what was regarded as the toughest first phase group.

"Nigeria came out and gave us a good game. We knew it wasn't going to be easy and they didn't disappoint us. (Denmark?) Yeah, we can't wait.

"We came here with the aim of getting out of the group and we did that. We're a young bunch so we're going to be very much up for the next phase," he said.

Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde refused to be downbeat after reflecting on his team's first round exit from the competition. They had earlier lost narrowly to both Sweden and Argentina to finish with just one point.

"I sincerely believe it was the will of god that we didn't reach the second round because we played well enough to get at least a draw with Argentina and to have beaten Sweden hands down.

"I said when I came here to handle the team I had two objectives. One was not to be disgraced at this World Cup and two was to lay the found foundations for a new 'Super Eagles'.

"I think with what we saw this afternoon we have laid those foundations. Within the next six months we'll have a very formidable team for Nigeria."

A disappointing afternoon for the English was summed up late in the game when substitute Teddy Sheringham scooped a shot over the bar from close range.

That was England's best chance of a dour second half where they failed to seriously test a Nigeria side showing five changes from their regular starting line-up.

Nigeria's 'Super Eagles' were unable to create much either but with the speedy Julius Aghahowa in attack England's defence could never relax.

Aghahowa caused an early scare in the second half when some slack defending by Rio Ferdinand allowed the Shakhtar Donetsk player to go clear before he was closed down by the back-pedalling English cover.

England, needing a point to qualify for a place in the second round, came closest to breaking the deadlock on 44 minutes when a long-range shot from Paul Scholes was touched onto a post by Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama.

For most of a nervous opening 45 minutes, Nigeria looked by far the more comfortable of the two teams as England struggled to adapt to hot and humid conditions at the Osaka Nagai Stadium.

Aghahowa always looked threatening, his speed and movement causing problems for England's defence.

But for all the Nigerians' early domination of possession and territory they failed to create many clear chances on goal.

Aghahowa saw a scuffed shot from close range comfortably saved by David Seaman, who also had to parry a curling freekick from Nigerian captain Jay Jay Okocha on the half hour.

At the other end England found it equally hard to test Nigeria's teenage keeper Enyeama, surprisingly named in the starting line-up in place of the experienced Ike Shorunmu.

Although Enyeama looked uncomfortable dealing with crosses, England were unable to put the 19-year-old under much pressure.

A shot from Emile Heskey was easily saved by Enyeama and Michael Owen burst clear from the Nigerian defence on 35 minutes only for defender Joseph Yobo to block his shot on goal.