England expect more open game with Sweden

 
England, fresh from a visit from the barber, expect a more open game against Sweden in their Euro 2012 Group D test on Friday after there were few hairy moments in the defensive draw against France. 

Roy Hodgson's men took the lead in their first game but have been criticised in some quarters for their lack of adventure after France equalised as they sought refuge in the old English trait of being solid but unspectacular. 

Danny Welbeck, who started up front alone in the heat of Donetsk and is likely to again in Kiev on Friday, said the Sweden encounter might be more enjoyable for fans given Erik Hamren's men need a result after losing to Ukraine.

 "It was quite isolated at times (against the French) but at that level of football you are not going to get so much of the ball," he told a news conference. 

"I think looking at it from a neutral perspective, it will be a fun game to watch. It is going to be better for us and once the game gets opened up there will be a few goal scoring opportunities carved out." 

Another reason to expect a more attacking display from England is the 1845 GMT kick off in Kiev compared to the afternoon heat of Donetsk. 

"The second and third games in the group are at a later time and it will be a bit better for us," Welbeck added.    

Wayne Rooney, suspended until the third group match with co-hosts Ukraine, sported another new haircut in training on Wednesday along with several other members of the squad and backroom staff. 

"The barber came in and set up his own barber's shop in Ashley Young's room," Welbeck explained. 

Jordan Henderson, a late addition to the squad after injuries to Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard, is England's only recognised spare central midfielder if anything were to happen to captain Steven Gerrard and the terrier-like Scott Parker. 

Hodgson hinted after the France game that he may leave one of the duo out against Sweden given they are over 30 and are feeling niggles from a long hard season but Henderson does not expect to start. 

He said Gerrard and Parker had done well to combat the French threat while starting numerous attacks of their own and looked fit enough to plough on. 

One man not fit to play at the moment is Henderson's Liverpool team mate Martin Kelly, who has been laid low with a virus. 

"I think he is getting a lot better. He'll probably be training soon," said Henderson, who like Kelly had an average campaign for a struggling Liverpool side and was a surprise inclusion in the England squad.    
 

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