England will face Ecuador on Sunday in the last 16 of the World Cup after topping Group B courtesy of a tense and largely unconvincing 2-2 stalemate against Sweden in Cologne.
Sven Goran Eriksson's underperformers proved the old adage that 'it's a game of two halves' is sometimes more than a cliche, as in the first period they deservedly led through a stupendous Joe Cole volley but in the second they threatened complete capitulation before having to settle for a point they barely deserved.
Let England's progression not disguise what was a largely miserable night that saw Michael Owen's tournament effectively finish with what looks to be a serious injury and Wayne Rooney fade before being replaced, to his dismay, on 69 minutes.
The second 45 minutes were nothing short of embarrassing at times, as Marcus Allback grabbed Sweden a leveller just moments after the restart when England lost him at a corner.
It was to be a familiar tale as Sweden twice struck Paul Robinson's crossbar before substitute Steven Gerrard powered Cole's cross past Andreas Isaksson for what looked to be a winner with just five minutes left.
It was, though, not to be the last action as in the final minute some Keystone Cops defending from a Sweden long throw gave Henrik Larsson opportunity to grab a comical, for the rest of the world at least, leveller.
From the onset - at least in the first half - England, buoyed by Rooney's bullish presence, tried to create a tempo to their game that belied tepid previous exertions.
All that is except the unfortunate Owen, who given a third and, one suspects, final chance to impress in Germany, was left crumpled in a heap after only a minute.
The Newcastle man seemed to catch his studs in the turf and the anguish on his face told a thousand stories, with Peter Crouch readied from the bench as a suspected knee injury required a stretcher.
Rid of the defensive shackles that goes hand-in-hand with any partnership with Gerrard, a free running Frank Lampard was in his element and within the opening two minutes had fired in two testers, the first a thunderbolt from distance, the second a misdirected header after Rooney's infectious enthusiasm had won the ball back and then fed him in.
Sweden in response provided the odd moment of consternation as Robinson needed a strong punch to repel a set-piece, before an advanced Teddy Lucic forced Lampard into an inadvertent block when up from a corner.
Still it would be churlish not to praise England for their desire to actually get the ball down and play and in Cole they had the half's best performer.
On 20 minutes the Chelsea man fired a yard over after cutting inside from the left flank and it was from his cross that Crouch got caught in two minds when pulling his header across rather than going for goal when free at the far post.
Sweden failed to heed Cole's warning and just short of the half-hour mark he punished them with the truest of strikes. Niclas Alexandersson's header seemed to have cleared Sweden's ranks but taking the ball on his chest thirty-five yards from goal, Cole then unleashed a looping, angled volley that dipped over Isaksson - who could do nothing to keep it out despite getting a hand to the ball.
Thereafter and English appetites were whetted as Rooney's sumptuous touch evaded Olof Mellberg but not Lucic who denied him a strike at goal. Chelsea team-mates Cole and Lampard were linking for country as they do for club as twice the latter had efforts at goal as England pressed for a second.
Neither were dispatched with the customary aplomb expected and, as if to warn against complacency in England's defence, Freddie Ljungberg made a sprightly run inside, but Rio Ferdinand's tackle was immaculate as the half drew to its close.
If the first period bristled with promise the second half was little short of shambolic, as time after time England were exposed from Sweden set-pieces.
Allback's leveller predictably came from a corner, with Sweden also hitting the bar twice as Eriksson's side crumbled under waves of yellow pressure.
When the goal arrived, the 2000th in World Cup history, it was former Aston Villa misfit Allback that reeked revenge on the English, when he sneaked in front of David Beckham to steer his header over Robinson and Ashley Cole at the far post.
England were not being undone by South American dazzling feet or continental flicks, but rather the type of crosses into the box that are the staple of any Premiership game.
Just minutes after Allback's goal and Larsson stooped low to direct a header goalwards that flicked off Jamie Carragher and then, somewhat fortuitously, the crossbar.
In the 55th minute and England's night of ups and far too many downs took another turn for the worse as Ferdinand limped off to be replaced by Sol Campbell.
Sweden smelt top spot and not a little fear from their compatriot on England's bench, as yet again another set-piece exposed a static backline. Lucic headed the ball back across England's box and on the half volley defensive partner Mellberg clipped the bar from the penalty spot.
On a rare forward foray Crouch had a header that drifted wide but it was Sweden that went closest when England had Gerrard to thank for repelling Kim Kallstrom's drive from the edge of the box off his own goal-line.
They were even more thankful five minutes from time when Cole's fine cross from left to right found the advanced Liverpool man at the far post and his header was bulleted past Isaksson.
Had England won maximum spoils then they would have had to start the next game in a change kit of black and white stripes, so at least they are saved this embarrassment, as miserable defending from Campbell allowed a combination of Larsson and Mellberg to hand Sweden a point on a night that raised more questions than answers.
