England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
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Crouch earns starting spot

04 Jun 2006 - 11:16:40

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Striker Peter Crouch is an almost certain starter for England's opening World Cup game against Paraguay, after netting an impressive hat-trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Jamaica.

Liverpool forward Crouch also missed a penalty against the Reggae Boyz, but did enough to secure a spot alongside Michael Owen is what looks likely to be a 4-4-2 formation next weekend.

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson said: "Peter Crouch had a fantastic game. He won almost everything in the air and scored goals.

"I think he will start next Saturday. I think he deserves it.

"The only thing I would criticise him about a little bit is how he took the penalty. It was a golden opportunity, but he joked about it and was sorry afterwards.

"He should have taken it seriously. You can miss them, but don't take them that way.

"If it was a penalty shoot-out I doubt he would have taken it in that way, I certainly hope not."