歐文代表國家隊出場78次，打進36個球，但是此次進入國家隊之後狀態一直不好，大腳指骨折的傷勢已經痊癒，但是精神上他似乎還沒有完全調整過來，埃裏克松終於説出，為何在對巴拉圭的比賽中那麼早就將歐文換下，原因是當時英格蘭隊丟球的情況過於嚴重，“下半場，我們的傳球很有問題，但是這並不是某一個控球隊員的問題，也和其他球員跑位情況相關。”“我覺得下半場的團隊配合很不好，我們完全沒有跑動起來。” 這幾乎是埃裏克松第一次批評歐文，可見歐文隊中位置受到威脅。一邊是魯尼上場心切，一面是克勞奇表現絕佳，這對歐文相當不利。埃裏克松還説“最重要的是歐文能夠發揮的越來越好，是不是能打滿80分或者90分這並不重要。”但是他否認雙方進行了攤牌式的交談，也否認歐文有要求他解釋為何早早將其換下。

　　原文：Judgment at Nuremburg

　　EYE ON THE BALL ... Owen has something to prove

　　By SHAUN CUSTISSVEN GORAN ERIKSSON wants Michael Owen to pass his Nuremberg trial — and prove against Trinidad & Tobago why he is England’s No 1 striker. Owen has 36 goals from 78 internationals but, since joining up with the squad, he has looked a shadow of the player he once was. The broken toe which had kept him out of action all year has healed. But, mentally, he still seems to be struggling. Now boss Eriksson has finally admitted why he subbed Owen so early in the opening victory over Paraguay — because the team were losing the ball too much. The Swede said: “I tried something else because we lost the ball a lot of times.“We couldn’t keep it. If you can’t the keep the ball, the rest of the team struggle to come out.“In the second half our passing was not good enough but that doesn’t only depend on who has the ball. It also depends on the movement of the other players. Do they want the ball? Do they do the right runs? Do they come for the ball?“I think it was bad team-work in the second half, we stopped running.”That is as close as Eriksson has ever come to criticising Owen, 26 — and it is clear the Newcastle striker’s position is under scrutiny.With Wayne Rooney desperate to return and Peter Crouch having played well enough to keep his place, things could get interesting. Eriksson added: “It’s important Michael plays better and better, although whether it is for 80 minutes or 90 is not that important. “I hope he is on the right way. I think he is.”Eriksson denied claims there had been showdown talks between the two, or that Owen had demanded an explanation for being hooked off. The gaffer added: “I’ve not talked to him about it. I don’t think I need to explain why I take players off. I do it every game. He was not distraught. He is much too professional to do that. "I think he is getting better and better. In the beginning he was maybe a little bit afraid but I don’t think he is afraid now, at all.”Owen’s partner Crouch, 25, will be marked by a man who matches his 6ft 7in — Wrexham centre-back Dennis Lawrence.

　　作者-佟杉杉

責編：佟杉杉