World Cup Diary 18. Winning

Eriksson began his press conference by saying he would not discuss formation and tactics so neither the public nor Ecuador know if England will use the arial threat of Crouch from the beginning or not.

Its a crafty hand for England to have and at the other end Ferdinand and Terry can expect a robust encounter with the strong South American forwards.

There are no draws now and only one team can progress and the English players will know that the country is adorned with their colours like never before.

Houses and cars carry the white flag with the red cross and the population is stranglely united in its focus on 90 minutes of sporting action. Playing fields are busy with children, youths, men and women kicking balls and enjoying the summer and the World Cup 06.

There are no certainities but the English know their game and football and its the man in the street who has been backing this generation of footballers to go on and acheive.

The pundits and know-alls and experts and journalists may fall craven at the feet of Brazil, Argentine, Italy or who-ever but its the everyday fans who choose to believe. They want to believe England are good enough and can be equal to anyone else in the world.

After forty years of coming at best fourth the English football fan needs no lessons in the art of losing. Defeat has come easy, and come hard but now there is a different focus, a different requirement.