Eriksson Praises Captain's Heroics

Sven-Goran Eriksson saluted England captain David Beckham after he had played through sickness to rescue England's World Cup dreams in a 1-0 victory against Ecuador.

The England manager revealed he had not known Beckham was feeling unwell before the game and only realised when his skipper vomited after scoring his trademark free-kick on the hour mark which took his side through to the quarter-finals.

Said Eriksson: "I did not know he was feeling bad before the game. He didn't tell me, for sure. In the second half we saw it all, he didn't need to tell me."

Eriksson refused to get embroiled with critics such as 1966 World Cup winners Sir Geoff Hurst and George Cohen, who had said Beckham should be dropped in favour of Aaron Lennon.

Said Eriksson: "I have stopped saying anything to the critics about David Beckham. He's maybe the best player at set pieces in the world and he's still criticised."

The Swede admitted he had been preparing to bring on Peter Crouch just before the goal went in but would not reveal who would have made way.

He said: "I'll not tell that. It will make some players unhappy and why should I do that?"
Despite another lacklustre performance in open play with a new 4-5-1 formation, however, Eriksson insisted England were on course to win the World Cup.

He said: "We all know we can play better, but after four games we are playing better and better and the best will come.

"It's strange knowing you can play better and you've already reached the quarter finals.

"I'm not concerned. Everything will be okay. Germany are there, Argentina are there and we are the third team in the quarters. I'm rather proud of that. We will do better than we did four years ago.

"We didn't create many chances in the first half and the last pass was missing but it was better than against Sweden."

Eriksson was also pleased with the team's fitness levels in heat hovering around the ninety degrees mark and especially with the fact Wayne Rooney lasted 90 minutes as the lone striker.

Eriksson added: "Rooney will be better and better. I'm confident of that."

England could have gone behind after just 10 minutes when Carlos Tenorio cashed in on a John
Terry headed mistake only to see his shot ricochet off Ashley Cole's despairing tackle and rebound back off the crossbar.

Terry, who won the man-of-the-match award, revealed how the England players had later thanked Cole.

Terry said: "The lads were all patting him on the back. He got a great tackle in.

"We know we need to up our game. We got through the group phase improving every match and we need to do that again.

"We have a lot more in the tank to give. A clean sheet is a great feeling for us. But it's not just about the back five, it's about the whole team and we are defending well together as a team."

Terry also revealed the players were not aware of Beckham's problems.

He added: "If he was sick he was different class today. He didn't waste a pass and in the last 10 minutes he was there getting back and getting it away. He was the perfect captain."

Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez hailed his players despite their World Cup exit.

"England respected us a lot and it demonstrated how the England coach has been thinking about us," said Suarez.

"England played us differently than Costa Rica or Poland (two of Ecuador's group opponents), it was very complicated for both teams to approach the last quarter of the pitch.

"It was a very well-played game tactically, that's why there weren't so many chances to score.

"But I think that things would have been even more important for us if Tenorio had scored in the first half."

Suarez felt his side, who surprised many by finishing runners-up to hosts Germany in the group stage, had justified their presence in the tournament.

"Ecuador beat the World Cup. Ecuador beat a lot of sceptical people," he said.

"People believed Ecuador were a team who win only because they take profit from their geographical height (their capital Quito is more than 9,000ft above sea level). We must be very satisfied.

"I'm proud of my players. I couldn't have been here if I hadn't had the players I have. I make public my admiration to them.

"The World Cup is a spectacular tournament, an experience that I hadn't believed could be so big.

"But it is tiring. I want to go back to my homeland, be with my family and analyse what we'll do from now onwards, to forget football for some time."

From : World Cup 365