A DEVASTATED Michael Owen will miss the rest of the World Cup finals and could be out for up to six months with a suspected cruciate ligament injury. While England qualified for the last 16 as winners of group B, successfully avoiding an early meeting with Germany, their relief was tempered by the knowledge that their leading goalscorer would play no further part.

England’s stuttering 2-2 draw with Sweden last night earned them a less hazardous tie against Ecuador in Stuttgart on Sunday, although with Sven-Göran Eriksson’s squad now riven by injury — Rio Ferdinand also limped off with groin trouble — optimism was rationed. Owen will undergo a scan today on the problem that forced his replacement after only four minutes, but nobody in the camp is expecting a miracle recovery. “It doesn’t look good,” Eriksson said. A subdued David Beckham said: “I think it’s bad.”

Owen’s studs snagged in the turf of the RheinEnergie Stadium after 55 seconds and his acute discomfort was quickly apparent. Clutching his right knee, the 26-year-old rolled off the pitch to receive treatment from Gary Lewin, the England physiotherapist, and three minutes later he was ferried gingerly by stretcher to the dressing-room. His leg was placed in a protective brace and smothered in ice.

Ligament damage is expected to be confirmed — a crippling blow for England’s prospects as well as those of Newcastle United, his club. Germany has been a miserable experience for Owen, whose slow recuperation from the fractured metatarsal he suffered on New Year’s Eve has played havoc with his fitness. He had been substituted in both previous group matches.

“It’s a knee injury, that’s for sure,” Eriksson said. “But what type of injury we can only guess. I’m sure the doctors have an idea, but the scan will show us better. We have to wait for that. I have spoken to Michael already and he is not happy, not happy at all, of course.”

The England head coach suggested that Ferdinand, who came off in the second half at his own request, “should be OK” by the weekend.

Eriksson’s prediction that his adopted nation could lift the World Cup had always been followed by the caveat that injuries would determine their chances and the Swede has not been blessed with good fortune. Owen, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole entered the competition struggling to varying degrees, Gary Neville’s lingering calf problem will also require a scan today and Ferdinand is a new concern.

The news soured England’s progress. Their performance against Sweden, whom they have still not beaten since 1968, degenerated as Eriksson’s resources thinned.

Inspired by Rooney’s first start since April 29, when he became the latest victim of the country’s metatarsal curse, England had begun with endeavour. Joe Cole scored with a superb 25-yard volley after 34 minutes, but Sweden were the better team in the second half. After Marcus Allbäck had equalised, they twice struck the woodwork and Steven Gerrard also cleared a shot off the line.

Against the run of play, a header by Gerrard in the 85th minute restored England’s advantage, but Sweden ensured a merited point in the final minute through Henrik Larsson. An enduring image will be of a frustrated Rooney punching the dugout and hurling a water bottle when he was replaced with 20 minutes remaining.