Michael Owen has admitted he was 'guilty' of going to ground to win England penalties in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Totally against

Owen argued that enticing a challenge from a defender that caused a foul in the penalty box was a skill. He added: "It's a very difficult subject to talk about especially to people who have not played the game. There is a major skill in trying to outwit an opponent. "For the actual player one against one, you're trying to draw people, to commit them, to get into the box because you know as soon as you have got them in the box they are petrified of sticking a leg out or doing anything. It is a skill to get them one on one or isolated. "No one is for blatantly diving, of course they are not, but there is a part of a striker that actually tries to entice the leg to come out to try to win a penalty. "It is a skill and it has been done for years and years and I don't think it will ever leave the game. "I'm totally against diving, I have never been for it or sought to get a penalty without being touched, but you try to push the boundaries to win a game for your team without cheating."