Eagles crash to earth

Roger Moore was among those watching Sweden and Nigeria play with a licence to thrill here yesterday and, as he left the VIP enclosure at the final whistle, the temptation was too much for a middle-aged Nigerian fan. "Hey, James Bond," he guffawed. "Anything you can do for us?"

As his alter ego, Moore may know a thing or two about getting out of tight spots in strange and exotic locations but, by this stage, there was nothing he, nor anyone, could do for the Super Eagles.

They have brought colour and the occasional spectacular moment to the World Cup but a second successive defeat means England will face a side on Wednesday guaranteed to be in a dismal frame of mind, having become only the second nation after Saudi Arabia to be eliminated from the tournament in which their expectations simply outstripped their ability.

The natural assumption would be that if England can overcome a side of Argentina's ability they should be buoyant enough to achieve the result they need against a Nigerian side troubled by bruised egos and disillusioned minds. But on the evidence of yesterday, it might be safer for Sven-Goran Eriksson and his players to adopt a policy of expect the unexpected.

At times Nigeria were beguiling, at other times they were simply bewildering, taking the lead through Julius Aghahowa before finally succumbing to Henrik Larsson's two strikes and Sweden's superior know-how.

Aghahowa's goal was one of those moments when Nigeria seemed capable of living up to all their own hype, the Shakhtar Donetsk striker jumping between two defenders to head Joseph Yobo's right-wing centre beyond Magnus Hedman.

Yet their perilous style of defending always offered Sweden a get-out clause.

Larsson equalised within eight minutes, running on to Freddie Ljungberg's measured ball and cutting inside Isaac Okoronkwo before toe-poking his shot into the corner, and his winner came from the penalty spot after another bout of pandemonium in Nigeria's rearguard had culminated in Ifeanyi Udeze upending the Celtic striker.

Nigeria will reflect on a glut of chances, not least when Jay-Jay Okocha, a player the World Cup will miss, embarrassed half the Swedish defence with a sumptuous run when the score was 1-1, only to fluff his shot.

In the panic Teddy Lucic's clearance ricocheted against his team-mate Johan Mjallby, on to the post and out. It typified the game.

After England's 1-0 victory over Argentina, Sweden must get a draw against Argentina to go through. The Swedes, who are on top of the group because they have scored one more goal than England, watched the whole match at the team hotel in Kobe.

Johan Mjallby, the Sweden defender, admitted that England's win was not the result his team was hoping for. "It isn't an ideal result and naturally the goal was a disappointment," he said.

"I think it was a doubtful penalty, but that's how it is in football. I think it's important for us that we don't have too much respect for Argentina. We're leading the group and now it's up to us.

"We'll go out and try to play our game and hopefully get a goal. But we've also shown that we can turn a match around twice in a row, although Argentina will do all they can to shut us out."

Joint-coach Tommy Soderberg believes his side have the strength to get a result.

"Everyone knew it would be a tough group," he said, "but no-one would have believed it if someone had said before the World Cup that we would be leading after two matches.

"We've gone a goal down in those two games and managed to turn it around, and that's an incredible strength."

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said their game against Nigeria next Wednesday was crucial. "We have to prepare for the Nigeria match like it was the final because now we have things in our own hands and it would be very sad, very stupid, to let it go.

"Nigeria were unlucky against Argentina and hit the post twice against Sweden so I think it will be difficult for us."

SUBSTITUTES: Sweden - A Andersson for Allback (64 mins), M Svensson for A Svensson (84 mins). Nigeria - Kanu for Babayaro (66 mins), Ikedia for Ogbeche (71 mins).

YELLOW CARDS: Sweden - Mjallby, Alexandersson. Nigeria - West.