ENGLAND expects and tonight could well be the night the three lions finally roar into life.

After two functional - if uninspiring - wins over Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, David Beckham and Co now face Sweden in a game that will decide the winners of Group B.

So if ever there was a good time to send out a message of intent then surely this is it.

For the first time since 1982, England go into their final group game safe in the knowledge that their place in the knockout stages is already secure.

Yet finishing top of the group, with maximum points and no goals conceded, would still not be enough to convince the doubters all is rosy in the England camp.

Only a resounding performance against the Swedes would do that, which is why I'm pleased to hear Sven Goran Eriksson plans to pair Wayne Rooney with Michael Owen in attack.

When everyone is fit and firing on all cylinders, Rooney and Owen would be Sven's preferred strike pairing, with Peter Crouch a more than useful back-up option on the bench.

Much as I like Peter and what he brings to the team, England work more effectively without him because there isn't that same temptation to pump long balls forward.

But now with Rooney back, he can act as the link between midfield and attack, which suddenly opens up far more attacking possibilities.

Owen Hargreaves will also get a rare chance to win over some of his critics when he deputises for Steven Gerrard.

The Bayern Munich man isn't everyone's cup of tea; in fact, many England fans can't understand why he's in the squad at all.

But the way I see it, anyone who gets a regular game for Bayern Munich can't be that a bad player so maybe people should start getting off his back and cut him a bit of slack.

Remember this time last year, people were booing Peter Crouch, but look at him now.

In the next round, given the choice between Ecuador and Germany in the knockout stages, I'd rather face Germany.

I know they've got home advantage but they haven't impressed me so far so I'd fancy England to beat them.

Agree? Disagree?
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