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| Beckham, Owen highly expected for England's World Cup opener against Sweden |
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England will turn to Michael Owen and David Beckham for a winning start to their World Cup campaign in Saitama on Sunday when they take on Sweden in Group F.
The two British favorites among the South Korean and Japanese fans are taken as the key to England's chances of winning over the Swedes for the first time in 34 years.
Swedish-born manager Sven-Goran Eriksson drew heavily on 22-year-old Owen's pace and clinical finishing during qualifiers.
With 16 goals in 36 appearances for England, Owen has a proven strike record against the world's best defenses and scored a superb goal in 1998 against Argentina.
However, the European Footballer of the Year can't expect much space in front of a Sweden side that is known of its deep defense and quick counter-attacks.
Beckham, who says he is fully recovered from a broken bone, has been dubbed by Eriksson as the best for free kicks and his energy in midfield, if fully recovered, has also been precious to England.
Sweden are worrying about two injury doubts -- midfielder Freddie Ljungberg with a hip problem and defender and captain Patrik Andersson, who picked up a knock in training on Saturday.
Ljungberg is coming off an FA Cup and premier league double with Arsenal, having scored a remarkable 16 goals, and would be a major loss for the Swedes.
With Argentina favorites to top the group, both sides know that three points on Sunday should see them into the second round, while defeat would leave them casting an eye on flights home.
Probable teams:
England (4-4-2): 1-David Seaman; 2-Danny Mills, 5-Rio Ferdinand,6-Sol Campbell, 3-Ashley Cole; 7-David Beckham, 21-Nicky Butt, 8-Paul Scholes, 11-Emile Heskey; 10-Michael Owen, 20-Darius Vassell
Sweden (4-4-2): 1-Magnus Hedman; 2-Olof Mellberg, 4-Johan Mjallby, 3-Patrik Andersson, 16-Teddy Lucic; 7-Niclas Alexandersson, 6-Tobias Linderoth, 8-Anders Svensson, 9-Fredrik Ljungberg; 10-Marcus Allback, 11-Henrik Larsson
Match referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil)
Linesmen: Jorge Oliveira (Brazil)
Yuri Dupanov (Belarus)
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