FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has taken a swipe at England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for playing with a sole striker in the 1-0 second round win over Ecuador.

Eriksson sent Wayne Rooney on alone up front against the South Americans in front of a five-man midfield and while he played well, England struggled in what turned out to be a dour affair.

In an interview Thursday with the Tagesspiegel newspaper Blatter said that while he was happy with most of the attacking play so far in the World Cup, he had been disappointed with the England game-plan.

"I am happy that the play is very offensive. The only exception is England who fielded just one striker in their second round match," he said. "That is not the kind of offensive football you would expect from a title contender."

England take on Portugal in the quarter-finals in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.