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."

Eriksson started the World Cup against Paraguay with both Michael Owen and Peter Crouch up front.

But after Owen was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury the Swede reverted to a fit-again Wayne Rooney playing solo up front.

Eriksson's tactics, however, were given the thumbs up by Franz Beckenbauer, a World Cup winner as a player and coach with Germany.

"In their last match they played with only one striker, Wayne Rooney, and he did a wonderful job," he told a press conference.

"It is the style of Eriksson and it is very successful. They have a chance to beat Portugal, it is a 50-50 game."