England join Germany, Ecuador in last 16

England joined hosts Germany as the first teams to qualify for the second round of the World Cup

England joined hosts Germany and Ecuador as the first teams to qualify for the second round of the World Cup after a laboured 2-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago.

Earlier, Ecuador enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Costa Rica in Hamburg, a result which guaranteed both them and Germany a place in the last 16 with six points each in Group A.

Trinidad, who had marked their World Cup debut with a surprise 0-0 draw with Sweden, held firm against England's attack until gangly striker Peter Crouch headed his team into the lead with seven minutes left. Steven Gerrard hit a screaming left-foot shot from just outside the penalty area in stoppage time to make the final scoreline look more comfortable than the reality.

Rooney’s fine run
England had looked sluggish until Sven-Goran Eriksson, their manager, sent on his dashing young striker Wayne Rooney as a 58th-minute substitute. It was Rooney's first return to action since being sidelined in April by a foot injury which had threatened his chances of taking part in the finals.

Though the 20-year-old did not feature in either goal, his presence and vision galvanised an England team which began to make chances and wear down the Caribbean side's defence. England will play Ecuador or Germany in the second round. - Reuters