South Korea - 1 England - 1WORLD CUP 2002/Countdown: "I don't think we have come here to make 50 passes before shooting at goal. That's not our way to do it." Sven-Goran Eriksson is a football manager confined by the restrictions placed upon him, chiefly the loss of Steven Gerrard and David Beckham, but his words in a side room here last night after England's one-dimensional performance offered a withering assessment of their passing capabilities. It was the frankest admission yet heard from the taciturn Swede.
In another room his opposite number Guus Hiddink was describing England as a long-ball team without sufficient variety, and the surprise was Eriksson's essential confirmation of that opinion.
The logic of playing to the strengths of Gerrard and Beckham is obvious but with neither available England needed to find an alternative way of thinking. Kieron Dyer's dribbling would have added bright ideas but he, too, is crocked.
Without the talented threesome England nevertheless persevered with launch 'n' leap football and a small irony of their display was that it initially showed why it can be an attractive, effective weapon, but also why eventually it fails. If the defenders of South Korea can read it, adjust to it and then nullify it, it must be assumed those of Argentina, Sweden and Nigeria will as well.
Early on, when Hiddink said his defence was "nervous" because of the occasion, Emile Heskey, Michael Owen and Darius Vassell made progress as Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves chopped the ball from midfield into those channels so beloved of Jack Charlton. England looked purposeful.
In the 13th minute Vassell had a chance cleared off the line by Choi Jin-cheul, after Owen had raced on to a volleyed Hargreaves pass, and four minutes later Heskey was released by a marvellous 40-yard pass from Scholes. But, after that, Hong Myung-bo marshalled his colleagues so efficiently that England had only two more attempts on target.
Notably both were from short and swift passing movements that owed much to thought and imagination. Danny Murphy's quick free-kick released Danny Mills for a shot that was deflected wide by Choi, and there was Owen's 16th goal for his country.
It came in the 26th minute when England were at their most powerful. The Koreans were being forced back by superior physicality and when the latest England attack was cleared only as far as Owen 20 yards out, he and Scholes saw their opportunity and struck.
Scholes slipped the offside line and ran on to Owen's five-yard clip. Scholes's cross-shot caused panic as Heskey lurked but it was Owen who bundled it over the line. The vibrant stadium fell eerily silent.
Not for long. Owen's goal signalled the beginning of Korea's recovery and the end of England's territorial domination. Nigel Martyn made his only save - from Hong's drive - but half-time not only produced seven England substitutes, but also a change in Korea's attitude.
More aggressive against an England side that had lost its shape, they equalised seven minutes after the interval, Park Ji-sung placing a forceful header past David James from five yards. Two other England substitutes, Martin Keown and Teddy Sheringham, had been outjumped at Lee Chun-soo's corner.
Keown nearly gave away a penalty later but at least won important headers, but more often than England would have wanted. Hargreaves ran and ran, and may well have run his way into the match against Sweden, and Joe Cole looked determined to backheel his way into the starting XI. But Trevor Sinclair performed like a disappointed man, Sheringham got lost as Heskey and Vassell vanished, and Wes Brown offered a good argument for Mills to be Neville's permanent replacement.
ENGLAND: Martyn (James 46), Mills (Brown 68), Ferdinand (Keown 46), Campbell (Southgate 46), Ashley Cole (Bridge 46), Hargreaves, Scholes (Sinclair 46), Murphy (Joe Cole 46), Owen (Sheringham 46), Heskey, Vassell. Subs Not Used: Seaman. Goals: Owen 26.
SOUTH KOREA: Woon-Jae Lee, Song, Hong, Jin-Cheul Choi, Nam-Il Kim (Min-Sung Lee 90), Tae-Uk Choi (Cha 76), Yong-Pyo Lee, Yoo, Park, Seol (Ahn 56), Chun-Soo Lee. Goals: Park 52.
Attendance: 39,876.
Referee: A Kahalidi (Malaysia).
