Paraguay pushed the self-destruction button in the fourth minute when Paraguay defender Carlos Gamarra headed a free kick from England captain David Beckham into his own net.

Though the victory was not very convincing, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was satisfied with his side's opening win over Paraguay.

"I'm pleased we got the win. We suffered a bit as it was a very hot day but the most important thing was to get the win and we did that," he said.

"We found it difficult to keep the ball in the second half. We will get better in the next match but it was important to open with three points."

"I thought we were finding it difficult to keep the ball so I tried to have a player who could link the ball up a little and JoeCole did very well in that role."

"I think we lost rhythm, I think we started the second half poorly but I think it got better at the end," he added.

England captain David Beckham blamed England's poor second half show on the heat.

"You don't realise how hot it was out there," he said.

"We were good at times but we gave away the ball too much. But it was hot and we got what we wanted. That was a good start and we have the three points.

"The performance could be better but we will work on that. We set out to get the three points and we did that.

"But we were exhausted. We can put it down to that because we are usually strong and our fitness levels are high.

"This was a three o'clock kick-off and it was 28 or 29 degrees out there," he said.

Paraguay suffered another loss in the fifth minute when Villar hobbled off injured after rushing out and hacking away a through ball. Substitute goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla took his place.

But England, seeming short of ideas in the midfield, pushed hard on Paraguay's defence, but created no clear chances.

Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez gave England's goalkeeper Paul Robinson a scare in the 45th minute with a fierce drive which just flew off the post.

Paraguay threatened more after half-time as cautious England put themselves under unnecessary pressure.

Eriksson decided to make a change after 55 minutes, sending on Stewart Downing for out-of-sorts Michael Owen.

Paraguay were gaining heart from the fact that Eriksson's side had not killed them off, and Roberto Acuna gave England an anxious moment on the hour with a shot just off target.

England's response was a cross-shot from Beckham that flew across the face of goal, as well as an effort from lively Joe Cole that was dragged wide.

Paraguay had possession without mounting a serious threat, and midfielder Frank Lampard could have doubled England's advantage, only to be denied by two fine saves from Bobadilla.