Now Sweden must avoid defeat against Argentina in their final group game to ensure their passage into the second round.

Celtic defender Johan Mjallby admitted England’s triumph - sealed by David Beckham’s spot-kick after Michael Owen was brought down - was not the result his team was hoping for.

‘‘It isn’t an ideal result and naturally the goal was a disappointment,’’ he said. ‘‘I think it was a doubtful penalty, but that’s how it is in football.

‘‘I think it’s important for us that we don’t have too much respect for Argentina. We’re leading the group and now it’s up to us.

‘‘We’ll go out and try to play our game and hopefully get a goal. But we’ve also shown that we can turn a match around twice in a row, although Argentina will do all they can to shut us out.’’

Joint-coach Tommy Soderberg believes his side have the strength to get a result.

‘‘Everyone knew it would be a tough group,’’ he said, ‘‘but no-one would have believed it if someone had said before the World Cup that we would be leading after two matches.

‘‘We’ve gone a goal down in those two games and managed to turn it around, and that’s an incredible strength.’’