England Striker Owen Injures Knee

England's Michael Owen is stretchered off the field during the World Cup Group B soccer match between England and Sweden in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, June 20, 2006. Other teams in Group B are Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (Michael Probst - AP)

COLOGNE, Germany -- Michael Owen's World Cup is pretty much over.

The England striker was carried from the field in the second minute of Tuesday's World Cup match against Sweden with what looked like a serious knee injury. He'll have a scan on Wednesday, but England isn't expecting him to play any more in his third World Cup.

"It doesn't look good at all," said England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson after the 2-2 draw that ensured England won Group B. "Exactly how long it will take I don't know.

"It's better to wait until tomorrow before we say anything, but it doesn't look good for him or for us. I spoke to him at halftime and he was not happy at all."

Owen's right knee buckled beneath him just after he had played a pass. He rolled a yard so he was off the pitch, and lay on the sideline clutching his leg while play continued. Owen then was treated by doctors and strapped to a stretcher and taken away.

"I think we're all feeling for Michael at the moment," England captain David Beckham said. "As a team we've done what we wanted, but to lose Michael I think is devastating for every one of us and the team. We have to think positive until we get the scan results tomorrow, but I don't think it looks good."

Owen was replaced by Peter Crouch, who hadn't started because he had a yellow card. Another caution and he would have missed England's round of 16 match against Ecuador on Sunday.

Owen, 26, only returned last month from a broken foot sustained on Dec. 31. He had been substituted after less than an hour in England's opening two World Cup games after struggling for sharpness.

"Michael's a determined player and he's proved that," Beckham said. "He's had a bit of criticism the last week or two, and tonight I think it's just really devastating for him as a player and for us as a team, because in big competitions, in World Cups, you need proven goal scorers and proven great players and he's one of those."

Owen made his World Cup debut as an 18-year-old in 1998, gaining international fame with a sensational run to score against Argentina. He's been a mainstay of the England attack ever since. Germany was his fifth tournament for England, but Owen has had a disappointing past two years.

He moved from Liverpool to Spain's Real Madrid in 2004, but failed to break into the starting lineup and moved back to England last season with Newcastle. He played 20 games last season before getting injured.

Midfielder Joe Cole, who put England ahead 1-0 with a dipping long-range goal, said England could regroup.

"It's disappointing for Michael and it's gutting for the team, but if we're going to go and be world champions, we're going to have to deal with adversity," Cole said.

"Knowing him as we do, we know he'll be back scoring goals for England and Newcastle in no time."

England had already qualified for the second round of the World Cup before the tie with Sweden.