Paul Scholes came closest to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a 30-yard shot which was tipped onto a post by Vincent Enyeama.

Paul Scholes was soon in the thick of the action as England tried to start at the kind of quickfire tempo demanded by Eriksson.

The Manchester United midfielder found Ashley Cole in an overlapping position but his low cross lacked power or direction and Isaac Okoronkwo was able to clear.

Scholes then found himself in some space 25 yards from goal but his shot was just off target.

Nigeria, however, showed that they would not be pushovers and a pass from Jay Jay Okocha almost found Benedict Akwuegbu in space but he was crowded out by the combined efforts of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand.

England were clearly intent on trying to use the pace of Michael Owen and attempted to find him with a series of early balls over the top of the Nigerian defence.

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama also looked far from secure and twice flapped unconvincingly at corners from David Beckham.

Julius Aghahowa got into a good position on the right of the England penalty area and appeared to be sizing up a shot after cutting inside but Ashley Cole was alert to the danger and cut out his attempted effort on goal.

Beckham then saw Scholes making a good forward run but his pass was just overhit and was collected by Enyeama.

It appeared that England were trying to conserve energy in the humid conditions as they were playing at a slower tempo than in their opening two games.

But after 18 minutes Enyeama was called into action for the first time.

Nicky Butt picked out the overlapping Danny Mills who sent over a first time low cross to the near post.

Emile Heskey was the first to react and he got in a shot which Enyeama managed to cling on to low to his left.

But the Nigerian keeper was having all sorts of problems dealing with corners from Beckham and he again flapped unconvincingly at a centre from the England skipper.

Beckham decided to try his luck from 25 yards out but his shot was comfortably collected by Enyeama.

Nigeria still posed a threat and Ferdinand had to come across quickly to deny Obiorah after he had seized onto a pass from Aghahowa.

Cole made an unimpressive start on the left flank and one mistake was seized upon by Okocha as he fed Aghahowa but again Ferdinand was alert to the danger with a fine tackle.

England were certainly not having matters their own way against a side who had only lost by single-goal margins to Argentina and Sweden.

Butt gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position when he was adjudged to have brought down Udeze although television replays suggested that it was the Manchester United player who was more harshly done by.

Okocha curled in a free-kick which Seaman was unable to hold but Campbell reacted quickly to take the ball away from Aghahowa.

Beckham again tried his luck with a long-range free-kick but once again his effort was comfortably dealt with by Enyeama.

Okocha showed that he is still an influential player in the centre of the park for Nigeria as his side more than held their own in the opening half hour.

Owen brought back memories of his goal against Argentina four years ago with a run into the penalty area but this time there was no end product as Opabunmi blocked his shot.

Seaman then again showed his class by blocking an effort from Akewuegbu after he had played a one-two with Obiorah.

England ended the half with a flourish and Mills drove a shot just wide from 25 yards out.

But then Enyeama produced a stunning save to tip a 30-yard rocket shot from Scholes onto the post to keep his side on level terms at the interval.