BUHLERTAL, June 19, 2006 (AFP) - Few can argue that England has one of the best defensive lines around and keeping a clean sheet in the World Cup is what is driving players like John Terry.
The Chelsea captain, a rock in central defence and considered by many to have been England's best player in their first two games, has forged a solid partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the middle which has frustrated strikers.
Although England failed to daGamebookersle against Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, the defence looked solid and has yet to concede a goal.
Terry, now one of the first names on Sven-Goran Eriksson's team sheet after playing second fiddle for so long to the Ferdinand-Sol Campbell pairing, compares keeping a clean sheet to a striker scoring.
"For the boys at the back it feels the same as grabbing a goal does for the strikers or the midfielders," said the 25-year-old as England prepared for their third Group B match against Sweden.
"We get a bigger boost coming off the pitch when we've kept a clean sheet and hopefully we can keep that going against Sweden."
Terry miraculously prevented England from conceding its first goal with his athletic goal line clearance against Trinidad and Tobago last weekend, but Sweden will be a much tougher task.
Barcelona's Henrik Larsson has been one of the deadliest finishers in the world for years while Arsenal's attacking midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has the ability to pop up and whip the ball home at any time.
But Terry, recently a father to twins, has utter faith in Ferdinand, Ashley Cole and Gary Neville, his regular partners in the back line, although an injured Neville is likely to be replaced by Jamie Carragher against Sweden.
England also benefit from having Paul Robinson between the posts and people like Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard steering the midfield and powering back to defend when there's trouble.
Asked if it was feasible to expect England to go through the tournament without letting in a goal, Terry said: "It would be very nice."
"Obviously there's some world-class strikers playing for some great teams but the defensive five are going into games desperate not to concede goals.
"That's our main aim. If we can keep clean sheets we're going to win games."
Both Terry and Ferdinand are born leaders and the Chelsea star, who spearheaded his club to a second consecutive Premier League title last year, admits that he has to work at the partnership.
"A little bit, but the way we get on off the pitch helps as well," he said, adding that both of them are talkative and authoratitive on the pitch.
"Rio's a great talker. He's a leader on the pitch and so am I. So we talk to each other and help the people around us," said Terry.
England take the field against Sweden in Cologne on Tuesday knowing they have already qualified for the round of 16, but insist they will not be sitting back with a clean sheet a primary target.
Either Germany or Ecuador are waiting for them in the next round.
"It's important to top the group and win the game," said Terry, adding that it didn't matter who they played in the next round.
"Germany are looking good and so are Ecuador. But if we want to go all the way we've got beat the top teams."