I feel prophetic, although Mclaren's sacking

is hardly a surprise.

As I sat down with a pasta bake to watch the match last night the writing on the wall began to loom larger and larger. "England to Play in a 4-5-1" I heard. Bad, I thought, but not terrible. "England always play better in 4-4-2" I told my girlfriend. Hang on- Mclaren was then on telly saying "we are playing in a 4-3-3". What were these mysteries? Joe Cole upfront, a wingforwardkindathing. And Shaun Wright Philips too.
Then came Steven Gerrard's interview "the formation is just pre -match gossip" he declared. I was stunned. It seems tactics is something Team England don't talk about. Or formations. Just the media. He then went on to add, somewhat contradictorily. "we are really confident playing in our new formation we've been practicing it for a ages, well, a couple of days." But what formation was it? As it turned out it was a 4-5-1 becoming 4-3-3, described today as a 4-1-4-1 in today's papers, which, with the wing backs charging forward was a 2-7-1 at times last night. When it resembled anything at all. Usually the team reverted to picking the ball up just over the halfway line and trying to bang it in long to Crouch. It was the worst I have ever seen England play, ever. Even worse than the "just hit it long for Big Les" misfits of the Graham Taylor epoch. Ineffective up front, disorganised at the back, confused in midfield. A tasty looking Croatia dined on them in the rain.

Mclaren for his efforts gets a 2.5 million pay off to fuck off. Nice.

Wales however did really well. 0-0 against Germany. good one boys.

All the home nations and Ireland are left with the dilemma now of who to cheer on come the championships. I think I will plumb for Sweden, Spain, and Holland. Well, why not?