England's Crouch fears World Cup suspension

BADEN BADEN, Germany, June 12 (Reuters) England striker Peter Crouch is worried about getting suspended because of the World Cup style of refereeing.

Crouch was shown a yellow card in Saturday's 1-0 win over Paraguay after being repeatedly pulled up for what Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez deemed to be fouls.

''It was frustrating,'' Crouch told reporters today.

''If you go back to the Premiership I wouldn't get pulled up for half the things I got pulled up for -- but that's international football and you have to adapt to it. I'm sure I can.'' Crouch's combative team mate Steven Gerrard would also miss their final Group B game against Sweden if he is booked again on Thursday against Trinidad and Tobago.

''It was overly fussy at times but you don't want to blame referees,'' Crouch said. ''I just have to adapt my game a touch.

''For Steven Gerrard and myself, with the way we both play, it is a concern ... I'm going to have to bear it in mind.'' BROKEN FOOT Though Crouch is set to start on Thursday, he could well make way in the second half for fellow striker Wayne Rooney, now back in training after a broken foot.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is optimistic about Rooney's chances and Crouch said: ''It's important we have him back.

''The fact that the manager's named him in his squad, (meant) he was always confident he would be fit. Now in training he's looking fit and it's important we have him back.

''He's a top-class player and we need everyone fit if we're going do as well as we can in the World Cup.'' Despite a disappointing second-half display in the sweltering heat on Saturday, Crouch said England were buoyant about their prospects in the matches ahead.

''We all believe going into the next couple of games that we're going to get the right results,'' he said. ''The next one is important because we go through if we win it.

''I don't want to bang on too much about it but the heat definitely played a part in the second half. I think our first-half performance was the more genuine one.

''We've got late kickoffs now, which will definitely help us, and hopefully that first-half performance will continue for the whole 90 minutes in the next game.'' Reuters PDS GC2056