BERLIN - Now that the queen has lent her support, England's soccer team is ready for its World Cup opener.
The touted English play Paraguay on Saturday in Frankfurt, followed by Trinidad and Tobago vs. Sweden at Dortmund, and Argentina vs. Ivory Coast at Hamburg.
The England team received encouragement from Queen Elizabeth II on Friday.
“I hope that the 2006 World Cup will prove just as exciting and inspiring as previous contests, and I send you my best wishes for a successful and rewarding competition,” the monarch wrote in a letter to the England team.
The queen's grandson, Prince William, will deliver the letter in person Saturday.
“As a nation we share a great passion for sport, and a desire to encourage participation in sporting activities, particularly amongst younger people,” she wrote. “Nowhere is this truer than in the game of football.
“Over the years, the World Cup has done much to promote the values of sport globally, and to show how these values can inspire us all.”
The focus will be on British fans as much as on stars Michael Owen and David Beckham - and the sidelined Wayne Rooney, who received a go-ahead to remain with the team, but isn't likely to play against the South Americans.
German security forces are paying extra attention to the British because of the hooligan reputation of some England fans. German authorities issued a warning to the expected 40,000 English followers flooding into Frankfurt that a strong police presence was waiting to deal with any disruptive or violent behavior.
“If they break the law, then British police working with the German police will have to deal with that in the way they think is appropriate,” said Vernon Coaker, British Home Office minister in charge of policing and security.
And back home, British and German police are jointly conducting patrols of the country's ports, hoping to prevent troublemakers from traveling to Germany to disrupt the tournament.
On the field, England has one of its strongest teams in years, and according to England defender Gary Neville, it has no excuses for a weak showing.
“We know how to lose,” Neville said. “We know the pitfalls, we know where possible problems for us could occur. Hopefully when those moments come this time, we've been through all that experience ... (we'll) take those make-or-break moments and make them go our way.”
Paraguay is taking the approach that its opener is its most crucial game in a group that also includes well-regarded Sweden.
“We have to give everything we have, we can't concede any advantages. It's like a final,” Paraguay midfielder Roberto Acuna said. “Without exaggerating, I think our life (in the tournament) is on the line.”
The Swedes face a somewhat unknown opponent in T and T, which is in its first World Cup, the smallest country to make the 32-team field. The Caribbean team has a few players who make a living in Europe, but is a rank outsider.
“We don't get tired of it,” Trinidad midfielder Aurtis Whitley said of being an underdog. “Everybody has their own opinion. But I know there will be upsets in this World Cup.”
For Sweden to avoid being a victim, it needs a quick offensive impact from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson. The Swedes will be without regular goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, who sustained a mild concussion when he was hit in the face by a hard shot during training.
Like Trinidad and Tobago, Ivory Coast is a World Cup newcomer. Unlike T and T, the Africans are considered a dangerous opponent in a difficult group that also included the Netherlands and Serbia-Montenegro.
Ivory Coast has three outstanding players from the English Premier League in Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Arsenal's pair of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue.
“We didn't qualify for the World Cup by accident,” Toure said. “We have a number of world-class players ... which have gained experience in the strongest European leagues.”
Argentina always comes into the tournament as a favorite, and it has extra incentive after disappearing in the first round four years ago in Japan. The roster is dominated by players who have won youth world titles under coach Jose Pekerman.
But veterans Hernan Crespo, Roberto Ayala and Juan Pablo Sorin provide experience to steady the youngsters.
“What happened in Japan, the unfinished business, hopefully will spur us on,” Sorin said.
The England team received encouragement from Queen Elizabeth II on Friday.
“I hope that the 2006 World Cup will prove just as exciting and inspiring as previous contests, and I send you my best wishes for a successful and rewarding competition,” the monarch wrote in a letter to the England team.
The queen's grandson, Prince William, will deliver the letter in person Saturday.
“As a nation we share a great passion for sport, and a desire to encourage participation in sporting activities, particularly amongst younger people,” she wrote. “Nowhere is this truer than in the game of football.
“Over the years, the World Cup has done much to promote the values of sport globally, and to show how these values can inspire us all.”
The focus will be on British fans as much as on stars Michael Owen and David Beckham - and the sidelined Wayne Rooney, who received a go-ahead to remain with the team, but isn't likely to play against the South Americans.
German security forces are paying extra attention to the British because of the hooligan reputation of some England fans. German authorities issued a warning to the expected 40,000 English followers flooding into Frankfurt that a strong police presence was waiting to deal with any disruptive or violent behavior.
“If they break the law, then British police working with the German police will have to deal with that in the way they think is appropriate,” said Vernon Coaker, British Home Office minister in charge of policing and security.
And back home, British and German police are jointly conducting patrols of the country's ports, hoping to prevent troublemakers from traveling to Germany to disrupt the tournament.
On the field, England has one of its strongest teams in years, and according to England defender Gary Neville, it has no excuses for a weak showing.
“We know how to lose,” Neville said. “We know the pitfalls, we know where possible problems for us could occur. Hopefully when those moments come this time, we've been through all that experience ... (we'll) take those make-or-break moments and make them go our way.”
Paraguay is taking the approach that its opener is its most crucial game in a group that also includes well-regarded Sweden.
“We have to give everything we have, we can't concede any advantages. It's like a final,” Paraguay midfielder Roberto Acuna said. “Without exaggerating, I think our life (in the tournament) is on the line.”
The Swedes face a somewhat unknown opponent in T and T, which is in its first World Cup, the smallest country to make the 32-team field. The Caribbean team has a few players who make a living in Europe, but is a rank outsider.
“We don't get tired of it,” Trinidad midfielder Aurtis Whitley said of being an underdog. “Everybody has their own opinion. But I know there will be upsets in this World Cup.”
For Sweden to avoid being a victim, it needs a quick offensive impact from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson. The Swedes will be without regular goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, who sustained a mild concussion when he was hit in the face by a hard shot during training.
Like Trinidad and Tobago, Ivory Coast is a World Cup newcomer. Unlike T and T, the Africans are considered a dangerous opponent in a difficult group that also included the Netherlands and Serbia-Montenegro.
Ivory Coast has three outstanding players from the English Premier League in Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Arsenal's pair of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue.
“We didn't qualify for the World Cup by accident,” Toure said. “We have a number of world-class players ... which have gained experience in the strongest European leagues.”
Argentina always comes into the tournament as a favorite, and it has extra incentive after disappearing in the first round four years ago in Japan. The roster is dominated by players who have won youth world titles under coach Jose Pekerman.
But veterans Hernan Crespo, Roberto Ayala and Juan Pablo Sorin provide experience to steady the youngsters.
“What happened in Japan, the unfinished business, hopefully will spur us on,” Sorin said.
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