Crouch: Long ball not my fault

Peter Crouch is frustrated that he is blamed for England playing a long-ball game.

Peter Crouch is frustrated by comments that his presence in the England team leads to the side adopting a long-ball tactic.

The angular striker started England's opening two World Cup games when Sven Goran Eriksson's team went for the direct approach.

After the scrappy 2-0 success over Trinidad & Tobago, even some of the England players conceded that hitting the ball long to Crouch was an easy option.

But the Liverpool attacker is upset that he is perceived as the reason why England sometimes play a long-ball game and has offered a staunch defence of his own style.

"It frustrates me when people say that," commented Crouch.

"I receive the ball into feet as much as anyone else.

"With international football, you need more than that to break teams down and we all know that."

Against Sweden on Tuesday, Crouch was due to be rested as he carried a yellow card, but was required after just a minute when Michael Owen suffered a knee injury.

Owen's tournament-ending problem leaves England with just three strikers ahead of Sunday's second round encounter with Ecuador.

Reports have claimed Eriksson could play 4-5-1, with Rooney as the lone front man, but Crouch is determined to start the match.

He added: "I want to play.

"Myself and Wayne can work with each other. It's a bitter blow to lose a player like Michael, but we have to pick ourselves up. We know injuries happen.

"Of course, we'll see more in training as to which formation the manager will choose to play, but we're all comfortable with whatever he does pick."

In training, England have been practising penalties, with Crouch admitting he will not be trying a repeat of his recent spot-kick gaffe against Jamaica.

He concluded: "I let myself down at Old Trafford.

"I'm sure I won't be taking penalties like that out here, but whether the manager wants me to take a penalty or not is a different story."