By Phil McNulty Chief football writer in Baden-Baden

Eriksson's use of substitutions has been questioned in 2002 and 2006

Former England captain Terry Butcher has defended Sven-Goran Eriksson after the Swede was criticised for his tactics in the win over Paraguay.

BBC pundits Alan Hansen, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright questioned the England coach's strategy and substitutions after the 1-0 victory in Frankfurt.

Butcher told BBC Sport: "I did not think there was anything wrong with his tactics at all.

"We've come away with a win, so should we be even bringing tactics into it?"

Butcher added: "When Michael Owen went off, Eriksson pushed Joe Cole into a 4-4-1-1 formation and then sent Owen Hargreaves on to shore up things late on when Joe got an injury.

"There was nothing wrong with that.

We got through it with a win and that is satisfactory in my book Terry Butcher

"I don't think tactically there was a problem, although I'm not saying everything was right about England.

"I thought they played quite poorly but they have won and I said before the game they can play as badly as they want as long as they came off that pitch with a win.

"They can all do better but what they and the coach did in Frankfurt will do for starters because they won - and that is the name of the game in the first game of the World Cup."

Butcher also sympathised with the England players, who suffered in the searing temperatures inside the stadium.

He said: "The heat was enormous and I don't think people realise what an effect that can have on you.

"I remember playing in similar conditions in Bilbao in the 1982 World Cup and it takes it out of you.

"It was red hot out in Bilbao and it was red hot in Frankfurt. Make no mistake it takes its toll.

"I think even the Paraguayans were struggling, so the tempo of the game wasn't high, which maybe didn't suit England.

"It reminded me of other games like the World Cup quarter-final defeat against Brazil in Shizuoka in Japan, when the heat was stifling.

"We got through it with a win and that is satisfactory in my book.

"Its a good start and I think the players know that can improve, so that is enough to be going on with for England."