World Cup over for Owen following knee injury

England striker Michael Owen is returning home from the World Cup after a scan revealed that he ruptured his anterior cruiate knee ligament during Tuesday's match against Sweden.

The 26-year-old Newcastle player was forced to leave the pitch just a minute into England's final group match against Sweden in Cologne on Tuesday night.

Owen's right knee appeared to buckle underneath him as he tried to pass the ball to Arsenal defender Ashley Cole. He was forced to crawl to the side of the pitch to receive medical treatment and was replaced by Liverpool striker Peter Crouch.

Owen is now expected to be out of action for another five months.

Eriksson is likely to be criticised for only bringing four strikers as part of his World Cup squad. Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney made his first start since breaking his foot in a Premiership match in April, but had to be substituted in the second half. Apart from Peter Crouch, England's only other striker is the untested 17-year-old Theo Walcott, who has not started in Arsenal's first team since signing to the north London club.

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe was sent home from Germany when Rooney was declared fit, while Charlton's Darren Bent was not selected for the squad, despite scoring 18 goals in the Premiership last season.

However, Eriksson insisted that there were several players in the squad who can fulfil the role of second striker, such as Chelsea's Joe Cole, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Tottenham's Aaron Lennon.

There was some good news for England fans, though, as it emerged that a groin strain, sustained by Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand during Tuesday's match is not serious and will not prevent him from playing in the second round of the tournament.

England's draw with Sweden makes them top of Group B and gives them the preferred second-round match against Ecudor and not Germany. It looked like England might have been able to beat the Swedish team for the first time in 38 years when Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole scored a sensational goal from 35 yards out.

However, just minutes into the second-half, former Aston Villa striker Marcus Allback scored the equaliser following a Swedish corner.

England went into the lead again in the 85th minute, thanks to a header from Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, but their joy was short-lived as Sweden held them to a draw, following former Celtic and Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson's injury-time equaliser.

England will face Ecuador in the second round match in Stuttgart on Sunday, while Sweden will play hosts Germany in Munich on Monday.

(KMcA/SP)