We Didn't Lose Anyway

10 June 2006 England 1-0 Paraguay - World Cup Group B

BBC - Carlos Gamarra put David Beckham's left-wing free-kick past his own keeper to set up a half dominated by England. It was a different story in the second half as Paraguay threatened more as a cautious England put themselves under unnecessary pressure. Frank Lampard came closest to extending the lead with two long-range efforts as the South Americans pressed for a draw.

*Update* -> a great article analyzing the match. (Well, I just found out that he mentioned almost everyone but Lampard! lol)
The Guardian - David Pleat
The stifling of Gerrard stalled England's momentum

Paraguay, passive first-half opponents, were forced to play more positively once a goal down and they deserve credit for stifling England in the second-half heat. Yet the key to the shift in momentum was born of three factors.

The principal reason concerned Steven Gerrard. During the first half the Liverpool midfielder flourished with time and space, recovering the ball and providing the passes as England played at the right tempo. England also used Peter Crouch to good effect and Carlos Gamarra and Julio César Cáceres were forced to face their own goal as balls were prodded over the top and beyond Paraguay's back line. Michael Owen, though not at his sharpest, got goalside and, even on the left, Crouch found space.

Yet at the interval Anibal Ruiz, the Paraguay coach, instructed his men to push up and support Nelson Haedo Valdez and Roque Santa Cruz. Carlos Paredes, in particular, was effective. Where Gerrard had been at the root of England's first-half ascendancy, now Paredes squeezed closer and stopped the back players playing balls into Gerrard for him to start attacks.

With Gary Neville and Ashley Cole cautious, the centre-backs lost their passing angles as Rio Ferdinand and John Terry were denied opportunities to get the ball wide or into midfield quickly. Normally, as one of the centre-backs gains possession, the full-back on that side pushes forward and wide to split the opposition strikers and open up the width into the middle third. At this point the deepest midfielder (Gerrard) shows himself to accept the ball to start the approach play. In the first half Gerrard found this room as Paraguay sat off. In the second it was denied him.

The second and third factors centred on Crouch and Joe Cole. In the first period Crouch was excellent. He offered himself splendidly to our midfielders and Owen was the furthest man forward. Crouch showed he does this deep-lying job well and can still spin and get into the box as the approach play develops. But, by substituting Owen, Crouch was forced up to the front of the line and Cole - who had been so effective - was instructed to play in central midfield. This disturbed England's rhythm. Not only did this mean switching Cole for Owen but, in effect, it swapped Crouch for Owen as well. Whenever Crouch goes up on his own, he is left in isolation and his team-mates tend to hit it longer. He can't run down channels as he does not have the pace, so England lose their shape and pattern.

England also lost a bit of energy with Cole's move inside and, with Paredes pushing tighter on to Gerrard, our football became claustrophobic. It did not cost England this time but it was uncomfortable. This World Cup is already proving that there are going to be sides who, if they are brave enough, can disturb the best.