Premiership Diary's A Long, Long way to Go.

England may now sport one of the strongest leagues in the world but the strength of the game within these shores is not reflected in any major achievement in international tournament since the famous days of 1966. The generation of professional footballers who now wear the shirt with the three lions have yet to progress beyond the quarter finals of a major tournament.

As the 2006 World Cup in Germany looms the quest gains in intensity as the millions of English people who have played and loved the game aspire to see their young men recognised as the most skillful on the planet.

The qualification is far from complete with away fixtures this week despite saturdays result against Wales there is N.Ireland offering the outside possibility of disastrous dropped points. Poland and Austria will visit in October and while the English remain hot favourites there is no certainty.

John Terry is injured and with the formation changes it appears that perhaps it is not Sven who has the commanding vision.

Sir Alf Ramsey imposed a system on the England professionals that he led to their famous victory - unafraid to drop legends and defiant with his wingless wonders. He played Stiles as a midfield enforcer and Ball as a dynamic linkman and always the players ran until they could run no more. It is not to say that England could not succeed with a tactical system developed through a more democratic or collaborative regime but there can be individual players who become discouraged if their own game is not flourishing in a specific formation.

David Beckham holds the Captains armband with an unswerving pride and remains one of the greatest deadball players England has produced. His ability at freekicks and corners lends much to the teams efficiency and he always offers sweat and yardage covered.

Nowhere though, in his or any other England players game do you get the bite, determination and aggression that Stiles brought to the team that won the World Cup. Sometimes beyond what is seen and what is possible it is simply a spirit that drives teams on - and finding that spirit is something England are a some way from