England v Trinidad and Tobago - Match Report

Crouch and Gerrard spare England's blushes

England stuttered into the second round of the World Cup on Thursday after late goals from Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard handed them a flattering 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

Crouch, who had missed a series of chances throughout the match, finally made amends seven minutes from time when he outjumped defender Brent Sancho to nod home a pinpoint cross from David Beckham.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard rifled in a thunderous shot from the edge of the area in the first minute of injury time to make sure of the points for England at Nuremberg's Frankenstadion.

The victory guaranteed England a top-two finish in Group B but was desperately cruel on Trinidad and Tobago, who looked to be heading for a draw after keeping their superstar opponents at bay with a gutsy performance.

England will now play either Germany or Ecuador in the last 16.

Earlier, England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had even thrown on a fit again Wayne Rooney as a second-half substitute in a desperate last-ditch gamble as England struggled to fire for the second game in succession.

But even Rooney's presence looked as if it wasn't going to stop Trinidad's 'Soca Warriors' from earning their second World Cup point following their shock 0-0 draw against Sweden last Saturday.

The smallest nation ever to take part in a World Cup, Trinidad and Tobago's squad is made up of professionals who play mostly in the lower reaches of British football.

English forward Wayne Rooney (R) shakes hands with English forward Michael Owen (L) as he comes in as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago in their opening round Group B World Cup football match at Nuremberg's Franken Stadium, 15 June 2006. The match was scoreless at half-time, and Rooney came on after weeks being on the injured list. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

But the motley crew from clubs such as Wrexham, Gillingham, Port Vale and Falkirk refused to be intimidated by England's galaxy of stars, who dominated throughout only for wayward finishing to let them down.

Trinidad's best chance came on the stroke of half-time when England needed a goal-line clearance from John Terry to rescue them after Stern John had tried to bundle in a looping effort from Carlos Edwards.

The second half followed a similar pattern with England dominating possession but short on ideas. However the introduction of Aaron Lennon and Rooney on 58 minutes gave England greater urgency however and eventually their dominance told.