Owen slams Sven's tactics

[Lineker]

Michael Owen blames Sven-Goran Eriksson's tactics for England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal.

The Newcastle United forward, who suffered a serious knee injury during the group stage of the tournament, cannot understand why Eriksson chose to play Wayne Rooney as a lone striker.

Owen believes the approach was a waste of Rooney's talents and that the youngster's sending off for trampling on Ricardo Carvalho was caused by his frustration about being left isolated up front.

"You would suggest he's probably only got angry because of what's happened in the first hour of that game. It's a frustrating role to play," he told ITV.

"Wayne Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world and you're cutting one of his legs off if you're playing just one up front."

He's right you know. And IMO, even though Hargreaves was our best player, Carrick should not have been dropped.

[TheArsenal]

Glad someone had the balls to come out and place the blame where it needs to be laid instead of everyone saying they don't know what was wrong, when it's clear to everyone who wasn't staying in Baden Baden.

[Grounded Wingman]

Glad someone had the balls to come out and place the blame where it needs to be laid instead of everyone saying they don't know what was wrong, when it's clear to everyone who wasn't staying in Baden Baden.

[fineintent]

Glad someone had the balls to come out and place the blame where it needs to be laid instead of everyone saying they don't know what was wrong, when it's clear to everyone who wasn't staying in Baden Baden.

Would have been nice had he had the balls to say it when Eriksson was still in charge.

[TheArsenal]

True, but Eriksson was effectively out of charge as soon as the Portugal game finished, but I've seen interviews with Bekham, Terry and Crouch since then that have said they don't know where the problem lied. There may have been other players too, but I hven't seen anyone else interviewed.

[Guest RexMob]

Maybe Owen should have had the balls to admit that taking him would have been too much of a risk...perhaps then we wouldn't have wasted a slot in the squad on someone who is in effect a walking cripple who happily let Newcastle piss away their money so he could 'recover' in time to grab a little last glory with the England squad.

[Liam]

Maybe Owen should have come out and said the real problem was us leaving behind Zat Knight...

[MDK]

You don't need Zat Knight anymore, looks like you are buying our Gabriel Zakuani.

[Lineker]

I'll put it here in order to not make ANOTHER thread.

England striker Wayne Rooney has been suspended for two matches and fined £2,400 by FIFA for his red card in last weekend's World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal.

The 20-year-old Manchester United star was found guilty of violent conduct after stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho.

He was dismissed for the 62nd minute incident as England eventually bowed out of the tournament on penalties after the game had ended goalless after extra-time.

Rooney will now miss England's Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Andorra on September 2 and away to FYR Macedonia four days later but will be available for the return match against the latter on 7 October.

After the match Rooney pleaded his innocence and insisted there was no malice intended in his actions.

FIFA has also banned Argentina defender Leandro Cufre for four matches for his part in the fracas that followed his team's quarter-final exit on penalties to Germany.

His team-mate Maxi Rodriguez was banned for two matches for his part in the same incident.

At least it's against piss easy opponents. Then again, Macedonia pwnd us last time round.

Oh noes, Argentina.

[TheArsenal]

Already posted in the World Cup thread.....

[Lineker]

Didn't look in the World cup thread...

[TheArsenal]

ok....

[IAceI]

Yeah, but Owen getting injured every 4 matches isn't much help either.

And it's hardly anything to say that now with Eriksson gone.

[evertonfan]

He's hardly 'slamming' his tactis, is he?