Osaka is expecting a typhoon tomorrow evening, by which time England trust that their World Cup ambitions, so buoyant after the win against Argentina, will not have been blown off course by Nigeria, writes David Lacey
Sven-Goran Eriksson's team need only a point to reach the knockout stage and a failure to get it would be a surprise even for this most unpredictable of tournaments. The Nigerians are already out and probably thinking of the journey home, and they may still be awaiting payment by their federation.
David Beckham's feelings about the game, therefore, will be shared not only by his fellow players but by his nation as a whole. "If we slip up now it will be absolutely ridiculous," the England captain declared yesterday.
In football the ridiculous follows the sublime too often for anything to be taken for granted yet it is hard to believe that last Friday's performance in Sapporo, which was such a contrast to England's enfeebled second-half display in the 1-1 draw with Sweden in Saitama, will be followed by another relapse.
If Beckham's mood is any guide Eriksson's side will beat Nigeria rather more eagerly than Bobby Robson's team did Cameroon in the 1998 quarter-finals. Getting through as group winners would probably bring England a second-round tie against Denmark or Senegal, although by the time supporters back home have had breakfast this morning Uruguay and France could have stood this group on its head.
"We've got to go into this game as if we're playing the world champions," Beckham insisted. "We've not got to get carried away with ourselves. The nation had waited a long time for the Argentina result but now we've got to forget that game and be aware of what we need to do."
Not that anyone is about to forget what happened last Friday, least of all Beckham, whose narration of his match-winning penalty becomes longer with each telling. In 40 years' time he will probably be going on about it like Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses.
"As the ref blew for the penalty I thought 'oh my God', because I knew I'd have to take it," Beckham recalls. "Michael Owen said, 'You or me?' And I said 'me'.
"I couldn't catch my breath. I took two deep breaths before I ran up to take it. I was looking at the ball. I didn't look at the goalkeeper.
"In my mind in that instant there were flashbacks from four years ago - the red card, that first game back at West Ham when to be fair some of the crowd were clapping me. But as soon as it went into the net I went blank.
"I've thought about it since and I couldn't sleep that night. It was such a close thing between being a villain or a hero. If it had gone wrong it would probably have been back to square one for me. Before we came out here my wife Victoria said, 'Please don't take any penalties'. "
Nevertheless, Beckham will continue to take them for England should any more be awarded. He could even find himself having to take another against Argentina, who in theory could meet England in the semi-finals if they do not go out to Sweden tomorrow.
Hypothetical though this scenario may be, it is surely not altogether wise for players to wax quite so lyrical about Argentinian gamesmanship just now. Even the England captain could not resist a little gloat yesterday at the expense of Diego Simeone, his nemesis in the 1998 tournament.
"At half-time Simeone came up to me, shook my hand and grinned," Beckham remembered. "After the game I went up to him, grinned and shook his hand." In the event of a rematch in Japan a number of things might well be shaken though probably not hands.
According to yesterday's Evening Standard in London Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu will miss tomorrow's match. Kanu limped out of a training session, before having an ice pack and bandage applied to his left foot. "I know most of the England players so I'd like to play but I'm not going to be on the pitch - I can't take that risk," Kanu was quoted as saying.
"I was injured after 10 minutes against Argentina and then I came on as a substitute against Sweden and I shouldn't have played," he added.
Argentina manager Marcelo Bielsa put his players through their paces yesterday in their final training session before their crunch clash with Sweden. Biesla will announce his starting line-up today, and is expected to make four changes from the side beaten by England.
Juan Sebastian Veron, ineffective against England, may be the big omission, with Pablo Aimar his replacement. Simeone may also lose his place to Parma's Matias Almeyda, while Claudio Lopez is expected to get his second start ahead of Juan Pablo Sorin, and Jose Chamot set to replace Diego Placente. Claudio Caniggia is expected to be named on the bench for the first time.
Sweden will not sit back and hope for a draw, joint coach Lars Lagerback said yesterday. "You cannot just go out and defend, you have to look at the possibilities to attack as well," he said. Patrik Andersson is again ruled out with a thigh injury.
Guardian Service
