Ljungberg fights Mellberg as Swedes lose cool

England's list of injuries may be extensive but at least no one has been in danger of suffering a broken jaw. That was the case yesterday at the Japanese training camp of Sweden, England's first World Cup opponents.

Fredrik Ljungberg, the Arsenal striker, and Aston Villa's Olaf Mellberg were involved in a fight which ultimately engaged four players including Henrik Larsson of Celtic. No one was seriously hurt but it illustrated, as have Roy Keane's tempestuous last few days, Trevor Sinclair's premature return and Cameroon's travails, the pressures already building on players ahead of a tournament which still does not start for a week.

In Ljungberg's case, the incident came on only his second day of training since Arsenal secured the Double. Foot and back problems had previously restricted him to light work and kept him out of Sweden's recent friendly against Paraguay. Ljungberg's back has troubled him since December, when pain from it came on during Arsenal's defeat of Aston Villa, and he is now having laser treatment on the injury.

The foot concern appears to be easing but it may have contributed to his reaction when Mellberg responded to a heavy challenge by Ljungberg on the lightweight Eric Edman by doing the same to him. Ljungberg, who had been brought to the ground, leapt up and sought to throttle Mellberg. When the Villa man prevented that, Ljungberg attempted to punch him. He failed to make decent contact, as did Mellberg when retaliating. Perhaps Audley Harrison will be in touch when looking for his next opponent.

Daniel Andersson, of Venezia, tried to break up the fight at the squad's Miyazaki training camp, but succeeded only in toppling all three to the ground. While they writhed on the turf Larsson dived in and eventually managed to extract Ljungberg from the fray.

The players shook hands but Ljungberg appeared unrepentant when he said: "This is what can happen in the heat of battle. He had been late with tackles several times. You have to show that won't be tolerated." Neither of Sweden's co-coaches, Tommy Soderberg or Lars Lagerback, would comment, but the team secretary, Mats Engqvist, said: "We are not used to this in Sweden but it's competition time and the guys are aggressive."

This is unlikely to be the last training-ground row. The long preparation needed to acclimatise to Asian conditions and time changes is putting stress on minds as well as bones.

Before 1998 England went to southern Spain, flying in and out of Morocco for two matches, but were then given a weekend off at home. Only then did they travel to France shortly before the start of the competition.

This time England left home 20 days before their first match. Yet, suggested Teddy Sheringham as he reviewed this week's match with South Korea, it is worth it. The temperature was moderate on Tuesday evening but, said Sheringham, "we each lost two or three kilos in weight, and that is just playing a half, so that is something we will have to get used to."

He added: "The pitch conditions were tough. I couldn't believe how sticky the ball was [on the grass]. It makes it hard to play one-touch football, but that is another thing we'll have to get used to."

Sven Goran Eriksson also complained about the grass which is thicker and springier than is customary in England and, unlike common practice in the Premiership, is not watered before games. Rainfall may help slicken the surface in Japan but not in Sapporo, where England play Argentina, as the stadium has a roof.

The conditions certainly appeared to affect Sheringham's game, though England's policy of playing the ball long would not seem to suit him either. He denied this when he said: "I've played every system you can think of in my career and I believe I can cope with everything, whether long-ball game or short-ball game."

Sheringham is aware that he ended the season in moderate form, but pointed out: "It's all about timing and peaking at the right time." He added: "I don't want to come all this way just to sit on the bench. I want to be playing football rather than being a bit-part player, though obviously I would do my best whether it is five minutes or the entire game."

Since Sheringham has never started under Eriksson and has begun only two matches since being replaced by Michael Owen in the last World Cup he would seem an unlikely starter. Yet injuries may force Eriksson's hand. Robbie Fowler is still unfit while Emile Heskey might find himself in midfield. That would leave Sheringham contesting the right to partner Owen with the quick but inexperienced Darius Vassell.

Yesterday, at least, there were no new injuries though this may have been because the fit players were given a day off. No golf injuries have been reported.

While other injured players continued rehabilitation work, Danny Murphy had to wait for the swelling on his injured foot to subside before he could discover his fate. This will be determined today with a bone scan. Sinclair remains the first stand-by player, though the likes of David Dunn, now on holiday since the Under-21s went out of the European Championships, would be well advised to keep themselves in good condition.