Beckham: 'We're pleasantly pleased. We could have lost'

Sven Goran Eriksson insisted that England can still view the future with "great faith" despite being taken to the brink of defeat in their opening World Cup group game.

"We now have two finals coming up if we want to go further in the World Cup," the England coach said. "So it's difficult for us, but also for Argentina. We did not lose our first game so we can still look forward with great faith."

David Beckham lasted for only 63 minutes in his first match for just over seven weeks, and Eriksson continued: "You can't expect David to play for 90 minutes if he has not played for a long time. He did rather well but he tired in the second half. "With every day we gain, the injured players become more and more fit. Just two or three weeks ago, we had a lot of injured players."

Despite England's first-half advantage, only a series of superb saves by David Seaman kept Sweden at bay as they dominated the second-half.

"Especially in the first 35 minutes, we did very well, controlling the game, and created some good chances. With a bit more luck, we would have been 2-0 up," Eriksson added. "We had the chance to beat them but the game changed in the second-half and we did not play very well. They were very strong and we suffered.

"We knew they would be very good opponents. The result is fair so there is nothing to say. It's a very difficult group and all the teams are very strong. Sweden are maybe not as brilliant as Argentina but they are very difficult to beat and very well organised."

Beckham said he was satisfied with his fitness. "My foot was aching a little bit but it felt OK during the match," he said. "I was pleased with the way I played, especially in the first half, but I felt a bit tired in the second half."

Beckham said he was disappointed England did not go on to win. "It would have been great for all the fans. But we've got a point and hopefully we will play better against Argentina," he said. "A lot of lads are down in the changing room. But there's no need to be. At the end of the day we've not lost and in the first half we played some really good football.

"People make a lot of the Argentina game, but we said that the first game is always the crucial one. But we're pleasantly pleased really... because we could have ended up losing the game... they had a couple of chances at the end."

Michael Owen said he was just thankful that England had not been beaten. "Obviously we would have preferred to have got the three points but the main thing in the first game is not to get beaten and thankfully we haven't," he said. Of his own performance, he said: "You have to be on your toes... but unfortunately I didn't get much of a chance today. But there will be other games and I'm sure I will get more chances. It sets it up for an even nicer game against Argentina."

Freddie Ljungberg says he will play through the pain barrier to help Sweden qualify for the second round. Arsenal's Sweden midfielder hobbled away from the game yesterday, barely able to stand because of a leg injury. While other players stood and talked to reporters after the match, Ljungberg sat on a chair before making his way stiffly on to the team coach. "We know what the injury is," he said. "It's up in the hip area and I have some problems when I land on my left leg. Hopefully I can play all the matches but after the games I get stiff and I limp, unfortunately."