Eriksson’s calmness to be tested

However, FIFA’s deadline for replacing injured players — 24 hours before the team’s first match — is looming and Eriksson has to know if he needs to summon his standbys, David Dunn and Alan Smith.

Eriksson remains particularly optimistic about skipper Beckham, who broke his foot nearly seven weeks ago. Now due for a scan that should clear him, Eriksson expects the midfielder to be training with the squad by midweek and on the pitch in Saitama to face Sweden. “We think and we hope he will be fit for Sunday,” Eriksson said after England’s disappointing performance in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Cameroon.

“Fly him home? No-one has suggested that to me, and I have never heard about it,” Eriksson added.

Dyer, whose knee injury was sustained a fortnight ago, was always going to be more likely to face Argentina than Sweden.

He is now at the running stage of his rehabilitation and has only just begun ball-work — putting him clearly behind Beckham in the race for fitness.

Goalkeeper David Seaman (groin) and defender Ashley Cole (knee) should be back in training in a couple of days after picking up less serious injuries in South Korea last week.

Had the Cameroon game been a World Cup match, Eriksson would probably have played Nicky Butt.

The combative midfielder has just returned to full training after a knee injury and should definitely be fit to face Sweden.

When Eriksson announced his initial World Cup squad earlier this month, he made a statement he may have lived to regret.

“There are very few injuries and that’s important,” he said.

Events this week in a Japanese hospital and an island training pitch will determine the extent of that regret. (Reuters)