Net pains: Johnson ends up in the goal as he fails to keep the ball out

England were trying to move the ball from the back and a 13-pass sequence in the sixth minute that ended with a free-kick for Hodgson’s side was promising. As was the terrific 25-yard shot from Scott Parker that forced a decent save from Andreas Isaksson.

Carroll impressed with one early move, sending a super ball out to Milner on the right flank and so inviting his colleague to send in a cross that Welbeck met with a header that flew wide.

Carroll’s goal was a beauty, a header that more than did justice to the second deadly delivery we have seen at this tournament from Gerrard. It also highlighted why seven of the last eight goals Sweden have conceded have been headers — Andreas Granqvist was hopeless in trying to mark the Liverpool striker — and one that brought Hodgson and Rooney to their feet.

A super first-time ball from Ashley Cole then sent Ashley Young clear, but the England winger sent his effort into the side-netting when he should have centred for Carroll.

If that troubled Hodgson, the slight drop in tempo that was allowing Sweden to get more into this game would have too.

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