COLOGNE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said his side must improve their defending at set pieces following the 2-2 draw with Sweden in their last World Cup Group B match here on Tuesday.

    Sweden's first goal came from a corner and the second from a free-kick.

    "We did not defend very well against set-pieces - we have to work on that before the next game," Eriksson said.

    "Normally we are very good about that but today we conceded two goals. We have to play better and defend better against set pieces."

    Eriksson admitted his side must improve in their next match, although he was pleased to have finished top of Group B.

    He said: "The result was very important of course. The most important thing was to win the group and I am very happy about that.

    "But we have to do that better in future."

    The draw in Cologne means England have avoided hosts Germany in the last 16 and will instead take on Ecuador.

    Eriksson said: "On paper it should be more difficult to meet Germany (although) Ecuador will play better than they did today."

    Wayne Rooney started his first match of the World Cup before being taken off after 69 minutes.

    The Manchester United striker, who missed the first game against Paraguay and came on as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago, was visibly angry at being taken off.

    Eriksson said: "I think he was more upset at himself that he didn't play as well as he wanted in the second half.

    "He will get better and better. We can't risk to get him injured playing too much too early."

    Midfielder Steven Gerrard, who came on for Rooney, agreed that England needed to improve their defending on set pieces.

    "We looked vulnerable from set pieces and need to sort that out on the training ground," he said.

    And the Liverpool player insisted he was not bothered that England had avoided Germany in the last 16.

    "We were prepared for whoever we came up against - the important thing was to top the group," he said. Enditem