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 England hang on after superb start
FRANKFURT, Germany -- England failed to capitalize on a superb start but hung on to beat Paraguay 1-0 in their opening Group B match in the World Cup finals in Frankfurt. They took a third minute lead with an own goal from Paraguay captain Carlos Gamarra , who deflected David Beckham's 40-yard curling free-kick past his own goalkeeper. But they failed to show the killer instinct coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had urged and at times rode their luck against skilful opponents. The first attack produced a goal when Beckham's ball soared into the danger zone and Gamarra, attempting to head clear, sent a glancing header past Justo Villar under pressure from Michael Owen and John Terry. Things got worse for Paraguay four minutes later when an injured Villar was replaced by 20-year-old reserve Aldo Bobadilla, the fastest keeper substitution in World Cup history. The newcomer promptly gave away a free kick inside his area, Frank Lampard's shot came back off the wall and though he ballooned the follow-up, the midfielder then warmed Bobadilla's gloves with a 25-meter drive. England were in control, despite several crunching tackles by both sides, with Paraguay defending tenaciously and shooting from distance. Striker Nelson Valdez had their best chance before the break with a shot that flew narrowly wide. Paraguay were more ambitious after the break and Valdez again made the more threatening moves. Striker Owen, recently back from a lengthy injury layoff, went off after 56 minutes and was replaced by midfielder Stewart Downing. Joe Cole, who had been giving Paraguay a torrid time down the left, was pushed up as a strike partner for Peter Crouch, himself standing in for injured Wayne Rooney. Paraguay nearly leveled when Paul Robinson flapped at a cross but Carlos Paredes failed to get his effort on target. Suffered in heatEngland manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and captain David Beckham agreed that England had suffered in the heat as they ground out their win. "We suffered a lot but this is the first real hot, hot day. That knocked us a little first half but the most important thing was to have the three points today," said Eriksson. "We got it (the win) suffering and in football you suffer sometimes. But it was a very good start." Beckham agreed, saying "We got a good start, we got three points. We were good at times but we gave them the ball maybe a little too much. "The performance can be better and we can work on that. But three points was what we started out to do and we got that. "You don't realise how hot it was out here. It was hot for both teams. It was a three o'clock kickoff and hot -- 28 to 29 degrees. "We let them pass the ball around a little bit too much but exhaustion came into that and that's what we put it down to because usually we are strong. "We know we can play perform better. I don't think we lost our shape too much but teams can do that, South American teams can play the ball well. But we have got a good start." It was Beckham's fourth minute free kick which forced Paraguayan defender Carlos Gamarra to head into his own net. Asked why striker Michael Owen was taken off just after halftime with Joe Cole moving into a central position behind striker Peter Crouch, Eriksson added: "We had difficulties keeping the ball. We needed a player to link the play a little and we got better at the end. "We lost our rhythm. At the start of the second half we were a little bit poor. But I hope for a better performance against Trinidad." England face Trinidad & Tobago in their next match on Thursday in Nuremberg. It will be an early evening kickoff of 1800. 
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