Eriksson shows no sign of feeling the heat

England v Paraguay/Post-match reaction: Perhaps the defining element of Sven-Goran Eriksson's style as England manager is his implacable way with the media. He may not have quite the way with the fourth estate he has with the ladies but he is seductive enough to turn an abject win over an abject side into something a little more.

"In the first half until about 40 minutes I think we did well and played the football we should have played. We could have scored more goals. But the last few minutes of the first half and for a long time in the second we struggled to keep the ball and to come out as a team, and we gave a lot of possession to Paraguay.

"We struggled to keep the ball, we struggled to come out as quick in the second half and we lost possession to Paraguay. Our defence was great though. They (Paraguay) couldn't create many chances. I am extremely pleased with the three points."

And he sits immaculately dapper in front of the world's media and wonders if there is anything else they would like to know. Nobody expects he is going to weep or to suddenly start bawling the words, "Why? Why? Why?" But Sven looks as serene as a man who has just fulfilled his final lifetime ambition. This is his greatest strength and a weakness as a coach. He is calm, he is cool he is conservative. He doesn't link into that roast-beef part of the English psyche. He provides a little context.

"Four years ago we started with a draw. Two years ago we lost in the last minute against France. Today we struggled but we won. I think it's good. We suffered. We hung on. The result was good.

"We have to play better football but we will play better football. The heat knocked us a little today. The players said it was as hot as it was against Brazil in Japan. I'm happy. It's a good start."

And he's right. The World Cup is one long festival of overreaction. There are too many grand conclusions drawn too early and too certainly. Who really knows who looks like a winner after one game? England took three points. They are almost certainly into the second round, where they could play Ecuador. They will not be playing any more games when the sun is high. And barring calamity or abduction by Fergie, they will have young Mr Rooney back. Eriksson doesn't have to match the mood of the media. He just has to keep on working.

"I know we have to play better to win the World Cup but we will. The heat knocked us out a little but talking to the players they said it was hot like against Brazil and Nigeria in Japan four years ago.

"We wanted to see some fresh legs on the pitch, we wanted to keep the ball up there, which is why Michael Owen came off. We had difficulty keeping the ball up there and I hoped Joe Cole could be a tricky man as link between (Peter) Crouch and the midfield.

"You always get difficult openers. Costa Rica were in the game for 85 minutes against Germany. People from Europe expected Poland to win but they didn't. You are meeting the best teams in the world. We needed to win. The three points are ours. We have to play 90 minutes like we did the first 35 . . . I am sure we will play better and better with every game now."

His counterpart, Anibal Ruiz, appeared in the conference room a little later. He said what had to be said. He talked England up and made a great virtue of having held them for the final 87 minutes of the game.

"It took us a while to get into the game and we needed 15 minutes or so to get going. We were not able to score but while we cannot be too happy, we have to accept we were up against a very hard team with some great individuals.

"I think we are capable of getting two good results in the next games. We changed our attitude in the second half. Humberto (Paredes) played a lot more forward and managed to keep (Steven) Gerrard quiet as well as participating more in attacks. It was like having a third forward and this is the attitude we will have from now on."

Two managers with jobs still to do. You could have written the script yourself.