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Group B Match Preview - England v Trinidad & Tobago, Rooney Passed Fit, Carragher In For Neville

Submitted by Matt Vance on Thu, 15/06/2006 - 14:27.

England face Trinidad & Tobago in the third match of Group B at the Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, and a win for the Three Lions would see them comfortably through to the knock-out stages. Anything other than defeat for the Soca Warriors would be a major shock.

Of course most of the pre-match debate has been devoted to Wayne Rooney and his likely availability. With England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson declaring the Manchester United forward “match fit” there is a good possibility that he will make an appearance at some point during the game.

Eriksson is expected to call up Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher to the starting line-up that beat Paraguay 1-0, following Gary Neville’s withdrawal with a shin injury. Michael Owen and Peter Crouch are again expected to start in attack.

Owen was substituted after only 55 minutes against Paraguay in Frankfurt, but Eriksson remains confident of his continued improvement: "I think Michael is getting better and better and he needs to play, of course," he said.

England struggled with the conditions in Frankfurt on Saturday, and it may play an equally important role in Nuremberg, with the temperature approaching 30C as the squad arrived. Despite a later kick-off for this match, weather conditions are likely to prove a significant factor in the England performance.

Trinidad & Tobago are already overjoyed following their brilliant 0-0 draw against Sweden on Saturday, and just sharing a pitch with the England players is quite an occasion for many of their players, fifteen of whom play in the United Kingdom

The Soca Warriors coach Leo Beenhakker summed up the feeling in the camp when he said: "I think it is a big success, especially when you play the second half with only 10 men. I cannot ask any more of my players. I am very proud of them."

TNT captain and ex-Manchester United star Dwight Yorke, who played in the United team that won the Treble in 1999, echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying: "This is right among the very best. The historical moment with Man United was massive, but to captain your country on the world stage, and the point we got, is absolutely fantastic."

West Ham keeper Shaka Hislop, who played one of the starring roles in Trinidad and Tobago's 0-0 draw, will continue to deputise for the injured Kelvin Jack.

Centre-half Brent Sancho should deputise again for Marvin Andrews, and left-back Avery John serves a one-game ban.

England (probable): Robinson, Carragher, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole, Owen, Crouch.

Trinidad & Tobago (probable): Hislop, Lawrence, Sancho, Gray, Edwards, Samuel, Birchall, Theobald, Jones, S John, Yorke.

Referee: Toru Kamikawa (Japan)