A GOALLESS draw for England against Nigeria was enough to put them through to the second round of the World Cup, and a draw for Sweden in the other game sees Argentina go home.

In a tight and tense game in Osaka there were few chances for either side, Ashley Cole played well for England down the left and the last five minutes was played at a pedestrian pace as both teams were happy with a point.

Nigeria dominated the opening stages of the match as the game was played in a temperature of 93F pitchside.

Seaman was called into action to save a Jay-Jay Okocha free-kick and close down a raid down the Nigerian left.

But Scholes created the best chance of the first half with a stunning strike that the Nigerian keeper got a palm to and pushed it onto the post.

England finished the half the stronger.

As the tension rose in the second half neither team looked willing to commit men forward, but Ashley Cole provided a succession of runs down the wing to ease the pressure.

One of these produced a strange cross from Cole that bounced twice on the bar of the Nigerian goal and another cross from Cole created the best chance of the half.

His ball flicked off Owen who directed it to Sheringham six yards out but as he fell backwards the ball flew over the bar.

The last few minutes of the game were played in the middle of the pitch with both teams happy to share the pints.

The real drama occurred in the other Group F game where a draw between Sweden and Argentina saw the highly fancied South Americans go out of the competition.

England will now play Denmark on Saturday, June 15 KO 12.30pm BST a game that thisislancashire will cover on its text commentary service.

To the World Cup 2002 front page...