BBC SPORT | Football | World Cup 2006 | Teams | England

Sven-Goran Eriksson displayed a previously hidden ruthless streak to take on Sir Alex Ferguson over Wayne Rooney - but this unlikely killer instinct still refuses to extend to his England team.

England's labouring display against a very poor Paraguay must be placed in the context of fierce heat in Frankfurt and players still below peak condition.

But after a flying start that yielded Carlos Gamarra's own goal, England presented a familiar sight to those hoping the new emboldened Eriksson would take the shackles off his team.

This was not a desperately bad England performance - far from it. But all its faults cannot be blamed on the temperatures, because some problems came from the direction of the dug-out.

After a history of stumbling starts to major tournaments, an opening victory was all that was required as the campaign started.

England look strong defensively, but stiffer tests will come - as they did in 2002 and 2004

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty

But there were still signs of the failings that let England down in Japan in 2002 and in Portugal two years later - even though Eriksson may feel he can land a blow on Sir Alex as his time with England comes to a close, he is still a naturally conservative tactician.

It may serve him well and result in victory against Paraguay - but he may have to change his ways if England are to beat superior opposition and win the World Cup.

Paraguay were there for the taking after that early strike, but England once again failed to kill off opponents and were left hoping they were not hit with a bolt from the blue late on as they claimed the points.

And once Eriksson replaced the subdued Michael Owen with Stewart Downing after 55 minutes, pushing Joe Cole into a more advanced role, more questions started to mount.

It only underscored the folly of Eriksson's mystifying decision to leave Jermain Defoe out of his squad - and raised doubts about how much faith he has in Theo Walcott.

Michael Owen leaves the field against Paraguay
Owen is still not in perfect shape

If Owen was coming off, surely it should have been for another striker? It is to be hoped Walcott will amount to a little more than a novelty mascot at this World Cup.

Steven Gerrard shaped the build-up with his insistence that now was the time for England to kill off opponents and now the manager must share his approach if England are to win the World Cup, a feat perfectly within the compass of Eriksson's first choice 11.

England look strong defensively, but stiffer tests will come - as they did in 2002 and 2004.

Captain David Beckham had an excellent first half and there was a zip about some of England's play that hinted at better things to come.

History tells us that the start of tournaments is no guide to how they will finish, so it is to be hoped both England and Eriksson improve.

For now, victory is enough to be going on with especially after Sweden were held to a shock goalless draw by Trinidad and Tobago, leaving England a clear path to win Group B and probably avoid playing Germany in the first knock-out round.