England spirits lifted by Cole's late winner

With last night's meeting with the South American nation having ended in a more positive result, Sven Goran Eriksson will be hoping for an equally rosy outcome when England travel to Germany in the summer.

Given the lacklustre nature of much of his side's display at Anfield, however, such a scenario seems unlikely.

Joe Cole's stoppage-time winner might have saved his side's blushes against a Uruguay outfit who will be kicking their heels this summer after losing a World Cup play-off to Australia.

Peter Crouch's 75th-minute equaliser also justified Eriksson's faith in the lanky Liverpool striker, who finally lived up to his reputation as a potential game-breaker from the bench.

England's victory, however, did little to disguise the ineptitude of much that had gone before. England were both pedestrian and predictable and, while last year's friendly win over Argentina proved their potential, last night's success only served to underline their continuing inconsistency. Even Eriksson can have little idea which England will turn up in Germany this summer.

With England's World Cup opener against Paraguay now just 100 days away, the time for procrastinating is almost at an end. Of the 11 players that started at Anfield last night, eight are assured of a starting spot in Frankfurt.

Of the three that aren't, the injury-plagued Wayne Bridge will make way for Ashley Cole - assuming the Arsenal full-back shakes off his own recurring ankle problem - while Michael Carrick will stand aside for talismanic midfielder Frank Lampard once the real action begins.

Darren Bent is in an even more precarious position as he is currently locked in an end-of-season shootout with Jermain Defoe for the final striking spot alongside Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Crouch.

Defoe's winner in Poland played a crucial role in getting England to the World Cup finals but, after spending most of this season on the bench, the Tottenham striker spent last night watching his rival stake a claim for his place in the squad.

Ironically, it might have strengthened his hand. Bent's international debut was anything but a success and, despite scoring 17 goals this term, the Charlton striker will be fortunate to get another chance this summer.

Sven Goran Eriksson has always insisted he selects his side with an eye to current form, but that criterion appears to be applied more stringently to some than others. There have been times during the Swede's six-year reign when David Beckham has hardly merited his place in the side and, last night, Rio Ferdinand provided further ammunition for those who question his continued presence at the heart of England's defence.

Ferdinand, who has stuttered his way through an inconsistent season with Manchester United, rarely looked at ease against former team-mate Diego Forlan. The Villareal striker robbed him twice inside the opening 12 minutes and, after one particularly ill-advised foray forward, Ferdinand was grateful to see Forlan shoot tamely into Paul Robinson's arms from the edge of the area.

Robinson was hardly tested by that effort but the Tottenham goalkeeper could do nothing about the breathtaking strike that led to Uruguay breaking the deadlock midway through the first half.

John Terry looked to have averted any danger when he headed Mario Regueiro's corner out of the penalty area but, with astonishing assurance, midfielder Omar Pouso duly dispatched an instinctive 25-yard volley that arced into the top-right hand corner of the net.

On Saturday, Newcastle's Nolberto Solano used the outside of his right foot to score a contender for goal of the season. Four days later, and another South American was using the same part of his anatomy to even more eye-catching effect. Pouso's effort was certainly unexpected but, for all its audacity, it was no more than Uruguay deserved.

England were already in a rut by the time he found the target and, while Carrick kept things ticking over at the heart of midfield, too many of the home side's attacking players were unable to make any impact on a typically resolute Uruguayan defence.

Cole dragged a right-foot shot narrowly wide of the target and provided a delicate through ball that Beckham lofted over the advancing Fabian Carini but, for the main part, remained a round peg in a square hole on the left of midfield.

Rooney was strangely anonymous and, despite playing in front of his home crowd, Steven Gerrard spent most of the first half chasing shadows as England's defenders chipped a series of long-range passes that bypassed their side's most potent ball-playing threats.

As if to underline the paucity of England's attacking, their best opportunity before the break came from the unlikely source of Terry. The Chelsea centre-half broke 40 yards from defence, played an unorthodox one-two with opposite number Diego Godin, but saw his low shot blocked by the body of Carini.

The half-time introduction of Jermaine Jenas hardly bolstered England's creativity and, for all the obvious flair in Eriksson's ranks, his side will not make an impression this summer if they do not improve on their ability to keep the ball.

Far too many passes went astray and, against better opponents, England will be punished even more severely for their profligacy. Only Robinson's alertness prevented Diego Perez doubling Uruguay's lead after the hour mark when the industrious Regueiro took advantage of yet another display of sloppiness from the home side.

At least Crouch was able to enhance his reputation with 15 minutes left. Cole's precise left-wing cross left Uruguay exposed at the far post and the towering Crouch rose well to direct a firm downward header past substitute goalkeeper Sebastian Viera.

Crouch almost returned the favour 60 seconds later but, while Cole raced on to the Liverpool striker's through ball, the Chelsea midfielder was unable to direct his side-footed shot beyond Viera's reach.

When another chance presented itself in stoppage time, though, he took it with aplomb. Shaun Wright-Phillips crossed from the left and Cole was on hand to prod home an unlikely winner from the edge of the six-yard box.

Result: England 2, Uruguay 1.