No regrets for Eriksson over striker shortage

BUHLERTAL, Germany, June 22 (Reuters) England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said today he had no regrets about his squad selection after Michael Owen's injury left him with only three World Cup strikers.

Owen's ruptured cruciate ligament has left England with Wayne Rooney, who broke his foot on April 29, Peter Crouch and teenage novice Theo Walcott for Sunday's second round game with Ecuador.

Asked about his squad, which left no room for proven striker Jermain Defoe, Eriksson told a new conference: ''I don't regret it, because I think we are very well covered.

''Rooney's getting better and better, and fitter, and that's the positive thing...I'm quite sure I picked the best squad.

''You can never know if a player is going to get injured, whether a centre-haf, a midfielder or in this case a striker.

''I'm not worried about the situation today -- absolutely not.'' As for Owen, Eriksson said: ''It's a great pity for everyone -- our team, Newcastle United, for Michael of course and fans of England and Newcastle.

''It's sad, but that's football, unfortunately.'' Eriksson was annoyed on Tuesday night after England conceded two goals to set-pieces in their 2-2 Group B draw with Sweden, a corner and a long throw in.

The Swede remained waspish today, when asked why they appeared to mark zonally, saying: ''We shouldn't. We always want man-to-man marking at set-pieces, especially corners.

''It's a very good question -- ask the players what happened.

We defended very badly and I'm sorry about that because we should have won that game and that's it. But I don't think it will happen again.'' REUTERS DH PC2001