England strikers under pressure
England strikers under pressure
With Owen injured and Rooney uncertain to last the full 90 minutes, Eriksson will keep Crouch and Walcott on the bench.

Stuttgart: Midfielder Michael Carrick will make his competitive England debut and Wayne Rooney will be a lone striker in Sunday's World Cup second round clash with Ecuador.

Carrick, with only six previous caps in friendlies, was given the holding role in a five-man midfield to allow Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to get forward.

With Michael Owen back home with a ruptured cruciate ligament and Rooney uncertain to last the full 90 minutes, let alone extra time, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will keep Peter Crouch and Theo Walcott on the bench.

Ecuador have reverted to the side who beat Costa Rica 3-0 to book their place in the last 16.

Coach Luis Fernando Suarez made five changes to that team for the 3-0 defeat by Germany in their last match in Group A.

Defenders Ivan Hurtado and Neicer Reasco, midfielder Segundo Castillo and strikers Agustin Delgado and Carlos Tenorio all return.

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