歐文在英格蘭隊的前兩場小組賽中均被替換下場，但是他表示自己目前狀態很好，他説“我在前兩場比賽中並沒于發揮出我的最佳水平，但我一點也不感到擔憂，大家知道，從去年起我就告別了球場，但是現在我感覺很好”。目前英格蘭隊中魯尼已經傷癒復出，而克勞奇也進了球，面對三名前鋒，埃裏克松又要進行選擇了，但是歐文表示願意服從教練的安排.

　　鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblwc2006gpbengowen&prov=afp&type=lgns

　　原文：

　　Owen feels sharp and in fine fettle

　　by Martin Parry

　　June 16, 2006

　　NUREMBERG (AFP) - Michael Owen doesn't know what all the fuss is about over his questionable form, insisting he feels sharp and in fine fettle as he returns from injury.

　　The Newcastle striker has been substituted twice in England's last two games, and Wayne Rooney coming on for him against Trinidad on Thursday made a huge difference, snapping the side out of its slumber.

　　Owen might be recovering from a broken foot sustained on New Year's Eve, but his performances since coming back have left many people wondering if his best is behind him in a stellar career that saw him burst into the limelight in the 1998 World Cup finals.

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　　The former Liverpool and Real Madrid star though says he feels fine, and blames his anonymous outings in the last two games on the team not playing well.

　　"I'm not worried in the slightest, even though they haven't been two of my finest games. As everyone knows, I've been out for four months since New Year's Eve but I feel sharp and I feel fine," he said.

　　Owen has forged a partnership with Peter Crouch up front for England and with Wayne Rooney returning from injury, it is difficult to know who should be left out.

　　Previously Crouch would have been the player dropped, but his height works in his favour and he has scored four goals in three games, meaning coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has some hard decisions to make.

　　The Swede has made no comment on how he sees the team sheet with all three strikers fit, but Owen, at least, remains confident in his own abilities.

　　"I've been training well and scoring goals in training," he said.

　　"I've never shirked responsibility and if I'm given chances then I'm sure I'll score goals. I mean I've only had one chance in the last two games, and one rebound that was blocked, and I kicked myself because I didn't score it.

　　"But I'm still a decent finisher, I won't lose that. As I say, I'm going for it in training, I'm feeling fine and feel like I'm playing well.

　　"If it means bringing me off and putting Wayne on, as it was against Trinidad, then that's the manager's decision."

　　Owen has been a prolific scorer for England, netting 36 times in 79 appearances, and says that if the team is firing, then he will be too.

　　"We haven't changed the way we play, we are just not firing on all cylinders. I'm relying on the team. If the team is not playing well and I'm not getting chances then I'll be anonymous on the pitch," he said.

　　"If chances come along and it falls in the box I will pounce on them. If the ball comes in and I'm not there then that's when I'll be asking questions of myself."

　　With the towering Crouch up front, England have tended to play the long ball to take advantage of his height, which some observers believe is what is hurting Owen's game.

　　His Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder is one person who wants to see England change its style to benefit Owen.

　　"It takes time to come back from these injuries, but he will get better as the tournament goes on," he told British media this week .

　　"Michael has never been a player who can play 'back to front' and by that I mean long balls.

　　"If he gets service, he will score. He has a phenomenal record at international level and he is an ice-cool finisher."

　　Owen's England captain David Beckham has also backed him to come good, "as he always does in the big competitions".

　　作者-于歡-北京第二外國語學院-英語系

責編：佟杉杉