29 mins: Cole booked for Ortega foul

England 0, Argentina 0 (latest)

Ashley Cole has been booked for England for bringing down Ariel Ortega.

Trevor Sinclair moved into Scholes’ role on the left with the Manchester United player moving inside to fill the hole left by Hargreaves’ departure.

After 24 minutes Owen came within inches of giving England the lead, only to be denied by the woodwork.

Butt found him in a yard of space and he hit his low shot through the legs of Samuel across goal with Cavallero stranded.

But Owen could only look to the heavens in disbelief as his shot cannoned back off the post into play with no-one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

The game was now starting to open out and at the other end Seaman held on to a header from Batistuta, who had peeled away from the England defence to get on the end of a cross from Gonzalez.

Another decisive pass from Butt found Sinclair in space on the left and he had the confidence to cut inside but then failed to connect properly with his low centre which was cleared at the expense of a corner.

The challenges were certainly flying in from both sides and Ashley Cole became the first English player to be yellow-carded for a touchline challenge on Ortega in the 29th minute.