WITH England's World Cup campaign hotting up in Germany, the Runcorn and Widnes World has got in on the act.

We've signed up former England Under 18s Schoolboys captain and Farnworth resident Craig Heenighan to run the rule over England's opener against Paraguay.

"I felt England started extremely well, playing at a high tempo and pressurising Paraguay into making numerous mistakes in the opening exchanges.

"This resulted in the only goal of the game through an own goal from a David Beckham free kick.

"After that it looked as though we might accumulate a cricket score against what looked unusually lacklustre South American opposition. But after surviving the early onslaught Paraguay slowly but surely started to retain ball possession better and started to gain more territory in England's half.

"Although the first half was all England dominance and very comfortable we didn't have much to show for it, creating little chances and being reduced to long range shots from Lampard and Gerrard (who I felt was excellent and finally showed some of his club form for country).

"For all our dominance, it was Paraguay who had the best chance right at the end of the half but thankfully the volley was dragged wide - a definite let off.

"As the second half began I felt, as many others probably did, that England needed to up the tempo and revert back to the typical English style football, but this wasn't to be.

"The Paraguayans obviously hadn't read the script and came out faster and sharper than England and enjoyed long spells of possession, although like England in the first half, without having much to show for it.

"Michael Owen was substituted after looking jaded and lacking match sharpness, and replaced by Stewart Downing (a strange decision by Sven with a ready made replacement in Theo Walcott sat on the bench).

"England's problems only worsened when Owen went off. Peter Crouch, who was ineffective, was left totally isolated and England couldn't get enough bodies around him to retain possession, encouraging more attacks from the Paraguayans.

"However, England defended well and limited the South Americans to few clear opportunities and we almost wrapped it up late on with a volley from Frank Lampard.

"Although the performance wasn't the best from England the points are on the board and a win against Trinidad and Tobago will send England through to the last 16."