Eriksson satisfied with new-look England

MANCHESTER, England, May 31: Sven-Goran Eriksson gave his new-look England side a cautious thumbs up after they beat Hungary 3-1 in a pre-World Cup friendly yesterday.

Eriksson used midfielder Steven Gerrard as a forward and defender Jamie Carragher as a holding midfielder as he looked for a way to replace injured striker Wayne Rooney.

It was not wholly convincing, but England got the result they needed less than two weeks before opening their Group B campaign in Germany against Paraguay.

Eriksson's men toiled in the first half before headed goals soon after the break from Gerrard and John Terry, his first for his country, set them on their way. Substitute Peter Crouch added the third after a fine strike by Hungary's Pal Dardai.

''We talked about it at halftime, that we have to be patient and try to win the ball a bit higher up,'' Eriksson said.

''In the first half, every time we lost the ball they started to attack and did it very well. When we won it, they were good at getting nine men behind the ball.

''It was very difficult to find space...We can do better. We could have scored a couple of goals and things would have been different.

''But overall it was a good result, nice goals from us and a very nice from one from Hungary. I'm happy. Many more positive things than some small negative things.'' As for Gerrard's performance, he said: ''Wherever I put Steven Gerrard he plays excellently. He's a complete footballer, he can do everything.'' Eriksson was delighted with skipper David Beckham, whose crosses set up the first two goals.

''The assist he gives, you can't find in all the world,'' he said.

He defended the performance of Owen, who lacked sharpness and is clearly short of his best after a prolonged injury absence.

''I'm not worried about Michael Owen,'' he said. ''I've known him for more than five years.

''When it's the World Cup, the music is different for him. It's always been like that. He didn't go into hard tackles today and I agree with him but he will when it's the World Cup.'' Eriksson said right back Gary Neville had been taken off earlier than planned.

''We did it because he had a small problem with his hamstring but it was a precaution,'' he said.

There was praise for 17-year-old forward Theo Walcott who came on as a substitute and made history as England's youngest player, having turned out in a B international last week.

''He wins confidence every time he trains with us and plays for us,'' Eriksson said.

''I think you will see him in the World Cup, maybe not from the beginning, but he showed his pace here and that can be useful.''

Reuters