Cole to the rescue

England 2 Urugauy 1

Eriksson, exposed by a fake sheikh in the Middle East, watched as the frailties of his “best XI” laid bare by an outfit not good enough to join the world’s best in Germany.

Uruguay led 1-0 at half-time, before the friendly descended into a familiar circus of substitutions. But Peter Crouch cheered the frustrated Liverpool crowd with his first international goal in his fifth game.

He sank a header at the back post, in the 75th minute, after good play by England’s attacking star Cole. The brilliant Cole then grabbed the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

The Uruguayans were shipped in to simulate Paraguay, England’s first World Cup Group B opponents, because Eriksson wanted his players to learn about the South American style.

They obliged with the anticipated play-acting and arguments, but the first lesson for England was not to underestimate any team from this continent.

Uruguay may not be in Germany, after losing in a play-off to Australia, but they are stubborn opponents for England who had only won two of nine meetings before this clash.

The visitors were quick and neat, but England, full of fight and passion on their last outing against Argentina, looked flat.

They started sloppily all over the pitch but, not for the first time, Rio Ferdinand was the man who illustrated the casual mood best.

He ran the ball coolly out of defence until a flash turn in midfield cost him possession.

England quashed the threat, but another Ferdinand error gave his former Manchester United team-mate Diego Forlan the first clear opening of the game.

Only Ferdinand’s pace saved his blushes at the expense of a corner, but it was no great shock when Uruguay took the lead with a blistering finish from Omar Pouso.

John Terry rose to head a corner clear and, when it dropped to Pouso outside the box, he smashed it back into the top corner of Robinson’s net.

The setback stirred England slightly. They managed to force the tempo up a gear and finished the first half in control.

Terry rampaged through the heart of Uruguay’s team and looked set to score a spectacular first international goal, but ’keeper Fabian Carini hurled his body in front of the shot.

Darren Bent, on his England debut, showed glimpses of his acceleration, but could not finish two good chances.

The England skipper, David Beckham, went close with a free-kick, early in the second half, before making way for Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Wayne Rooney fizzed for 64 minutes, firing a couple of efforts at goal from distance, and was then replaced by Crouch.

The Liverpool striker was cheered onto the Anfield pitch and promptly delivered the equaliser.

Cole twisted on the left and swung a deep cross towards the far post where Crouch met it with a firm header.

It lifted the crowd and England finished strongly. Crouch set up Cole a minute later, but his shot was saved by substitute ’keeper Sebastian Viera.

Cole grabbed the winner, turning a Wright-Phillips cross into the net at the near post.

Eriksson, who will not see his players together again before the finals, at least knows they have the spirit to fight to the end.

ENGLAND: Robinson, Neville, Ferdinand, Terry (King 45), Bridge (Carragher 30), Beckham (Wright-Phillips 64), Gerrard (Jenas 45), Carrick, Cole, Rooney (Crouch 64), Bent (Defoe 82).

URUGUAY: Carini (Viera 45), Diogo, Lugano, Godin, Lima, Pouso, Perez (Gonzalez 88), Varela (Valdez 90), Vargas (Pereira 76), Regueiro (Martinez 83), Forlan (Medina 86).

Ref: Stefano Farina (Italy).