England have taken a 1-0 lead into half-time against Sweden in their World Cup Group B match against Sweden on Tuesday.

The match started badly for England after Owen suffered a serious injury in the first minute of the match after twisting his right-knee badly, and was immediately taken off the field.

He was replaced by Peter Crouch, who was due to be rested for the match due to being on a yellow-card, and who partnered Wayne Rooney up-front.

Rooney had a shot blocked in the 12th minute, with the follow-up cross from the Manchester united striker reaching Frank Lampard, who’s header was weak and didn’t worry Andreas Isaksson in the Swedish goal.

There were a succession of Swedish corners but they failed to capitalise on them with England defending well

England made a break from one of the Swedish corners that saw Chelsea’s Joe Cole have a shot blocked and his shot on the rebound going over the bar, but it was the closest that England had got to until that point and helped galvanise the team after the early shock with the injury to Owen.

Rooney was well blocked by Teddy Lucic when he was well on goal in the 24th minute, with England on the ascendancy.

Joe Cole was brought down by Matthias Jonson in a dangerous area and Beckham’s free-kick forced Isaksson to tip the ball over the bar.

Kim Kallstrom found some space in the penalty area, but couldn’t find his shot and the ball was eventually cleared away, but England, on the break, saw Jamie Carragher carry the ball up-field, with Beckham picking out Peter Crouch at the far post who headed the ball back into the area.

The clearance found Joe Cole 30-yards-out and the Chelsea midfielder chested the ball down and lashed out a ferocious strike which flew past Isaksson into the top corner to make it 1-0 to England.

Sweden weren’t making it easy for England, with Ferdinand making an important tackle to deny Freddie Ljungberg a shot at goal.

Lampard had a long-range effort go just over the bar in the 40th minute and the pressure was all from The Three Lions as the half came to a close.

The game went into half-time 1-0 to England.

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