Nigeria 0 England 0
An unconvincing England scraped through to the second round of the World Cup today after drawing with Nigeria in Osaka.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will play Group A winners Denmark in the last 16 in Niigata on Saturday. Sweden won Group F after drawing 1-1 with Argentina who are eliminated.
Nigeria were already knocked out of the tournament going into today's game but more than matched England, who struggled to reproduce the form shown in last week's 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Nigeria looked the more comfortable of the two teams as England struggled to adapt to hot and humid conditions at the Osaka Nagai Stadium.
Striker Julius Aghahowa always looked threatening, his speed and movement causing problems for England's defence.
But for all the Nigerians' early domination they failed to create many clear chances on goal.
Aghahowa saw a scuffed shot from close range comfortably saved by David Seaman, who also had to parry a curling freekick from Nigerian captain Jay Jay Okocha on the half hour.
At the other end England found it equally hard to test Nigeria's teenage keeper Enyeama, who was surprisingly named in the starting line-up in place of the experienced Ike Shorunmu.
Although Enyeama looked uncomfortable dealing with crosses, England were unable to put the 19-year-old under much pressure.
A shot from Emile Heskey was easily saved by Enyeama and Michael Owen burst clear from the Nigerian defence on 35 minutes only for defender Joseph Yobo to block his shot on goal.
England, needing a point to qualify, came closest to breaking the deadlock on 44 minutes when a long-range shot from Paul Scholes was touched onto a post by Nigeria `keeper Vincent Enyeama.
Aghahowa caused an early scare in the second half when some slack defending by Rio Ferdinand allowed the Shakhtar Donetsk player to go clear before he was closed down by the England defence.
A disappointing afternoon for the English was summed up late in the game when substitute Teddy Sheringham scooped a shot over the bar from close range.
That was England's best chance of a dour second half where they failed to seriously test a Nigeria side showing five changes from their regular starting line-up.
Nigeria were unable to create much either but with Aghahowa in attack England's defence could never relax.
AFP