David Beckham will be ready to face Argentina on Friday, despite finishing England's opening group F match against Sweden with an aching left foot.
"The foot is okay but obviously he still needs more match sharpness," England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told reporters after the squad's return to their Awaji Island base today.
Beckham, playing his first game since breaking the foot in an April 10th Champions League match, lasted for just over an hour of the 1-1 draw with the Swedes.
"It knew it might be dangerous to let him play more," Eriksson said. "Hopefully he can play more on Friday.
"The 60 minutes he did was very good for him," he said.
"It was important not to take him off the field, not let him stay out there for 90 minutes. That way, hopefully he will be even better for the next game."
Eriksson, when pressed by the media, explained he does not expect Argentina's players to target Beckham's vulnerable foot.
"I don't think there will be a problem of that kind," he said.