John Terry almost puits his side in trouble with a misplaced pass as Sweden charge forward. Seb Larsson's pass is meant for Johan Elmander, who has got ahead of the England defence, but Joe Hart is quick off his line to smother.
John Terry almost puits his side in trouble with a misplaced pass as Sweden charge forward. Seb Larsson's pass is meant for Johan Elmander, who has got ahead of the England defence, but Joe Hart is quick off his line to smother.
England look for Andy Carroll in the box again, but James Milner's cross from the right is too high and drifts over the striker and wide of goal.
Danny Welbeck is away for England, but he is all on his own with four Swedish defenders for company. The England striker has to slow his run and invites the tackle from Olof Mellberg, which dispossesses him. 'Support?' he has every right to ask.
Last minute of the half and England have a corner. Andy Carroll looks to head back the deep delivery but Sweden are able to clear. It is the last meaningful act of the half. The whistle blows and Andy Carroll lets down his flowing locks like a butch Rapunzel.
HALF-TIMESweden 0-1 England
To say that was a poor half of football would be an understatement. It has been absolutely dire. However, England will not care because Sweden have been worse than them. Roy Hodgson's Andy Carroll plan bears fruit with the big man providing the one real moment of entertainment from a wonderful Steven Gerrard cross. I'd love to be hopeful for a better second half but I fear we are destined to suffer through another 45 minutes of graft as opposed to guile.
Right, are you ready for more? I'd guess if it wasn't England playing the answer would be a resounding no. However, it is England and we're all in this together. We'd probably also all take the worst half of football ever played so long as Sweden don't score. It can be our own little Faustian pact. Hurt our eyes football, not our soul.
The teams are back out. If our deal with the devil has worked, we should have the worst goalless half of football ever. Here's hoping.
Former England goalkeeper David James:"The tactics are going according to plan. My concerns are the two banks of four. They worked well for England against France but we seem to be a bit more apart this time around and with a bit of cute passing Sweden could get through us."
KICK-OFFSweden 0-1 England
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