Gerrard starts for England

Steven Gerrard was declared fit to start for England in their World Cup opener against Paraguay in Frankfurt.

Gerrard has been struggling all week with a nagging back problem. He pulled out of training yesterday but was determined not to miss his first appearance in the World Cup finals.

The Liverpool captain, who missed the tournament four years ago through injury, lined up in a familiar looking England team.

Gary Neville, who has had a hamstring problem since the squad arrived in Germany, returned at right-back.

Peter Crouch, who scored a hat-trick in the final warm-up match against Jamaica last week, joined Michael Owen up front in a 4-4-2 system.

Wayne Rooney was officially named among the substitutes after boss Sven-Goran Eriksson announced he was “injury-free” following his broken metatarsal. But he remains short of match fitness and was expected sit on the bench in his kit with Eriksson having insisted he will play no part in the game.