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Canadian Hargreaves Ready to Start for England
Sun, Jun 18, 8:07 AM

By Trevor Huggins

BUHLERTAL, Germany, June 18 (Reuters) - England midfielder Owen Hargreaves gave a broad hint on Sunday that he will start their final Group B game against Sweden.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has indicated he will rest one or two of a trio of players who are a yellow card away from a suspension for the second round -- midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, plus striker Peter Crouch.

Speculation has pointed to Gerrard being the man to stand down on Tuesday, given his combative attitude in what is set to be a physical game, with Hargreaves replacing him in his preferred role as a holding midfielder.

Asked about the prospect of starting for England in his favourite position, Hargreaves told reporters: "It looks that way. Obviously, it would be a great opportunity.

"My last start was two years ago and funnily enough against Sweden as well," the Bayern Munich player added, recalling a 1-0 defeat in a pre-Euro 2004 friendly.

"It would be a dream come true.

"Any time you receive an opportunity as a footballer it's important to take it. In the past, I think I've done that and that's obviously what I'm looking forward to doing.

"For Bayern, I've proved on the pitch exactly what kind of player I am. I haven't really had the opportunity (with England) last time, just a few minutes to come on.

"The most important thing is that we get the result we need, whether that means me playing a great game, an average game or whatever."

GREAT TEAM

Hargreaves, who played the last seven minutes of England's 1-0 opening victory over Paraguay, dismissed the team's laboured start to the tournament -- which continued in a 2-0 win with late goals over Trinidad & Tobago.

"We've won both games to nil and there's still criticism -- that's the sign of a great team," he said.

"Great teams possibly don't play to their best, they win games and have the opportunity to play better. That's what we've done.

"Poor teams play great and lose."

England, who will face hosts Germany or Ecuador in the second round, need only a draw in Cologne to win the group, while Sweden want a point to guarantee a place in the last 16.

England have not beaten Sweden since 1968 and Hargreaves believes they need to be patient this time.

"We want to win, but you need to see the flow of the game, see how it goes and take your chances when they come," he said.

"We don't have to open up and take crazy chances. We need to defend well, like we have been doing so far, and let the game come to us."

Along with Hargreaves's likely use in place of Gerrard, Crouch is tipped to make way up front for Wayne Rooney, who played 30 minutes against Trinidad & Tobago after being out for nearly seven weeks with a broken foot.