h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

......the noise at Wembley was fantastic.

And the team weren't bad either - even though Veron almost blasted one inside the right post late in the game.

Anyone else take heart from our most comfortable display in over a year?

I have to admit that I missed the game, and that frankly I'm glad I did, because I was busy watching a band called Cousteau being brilliant on the night. Also, even though I'm English I tend to take a rather detached view of England games because I agree with whoever it was that said "patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
But I did read the reports the next day and by all accounts England were much better than they were against Scotland recently, with Heskey looking particularly handy. The result makes me think that maybe they'll be able to avoid embarrassing themselves in Euro 2000 - but win it? Do you really, really think so?
Sorry. My money's still on Holland.

I am a great believer that confidence and the self-belief of a side can be the most importsant factor in a game - as much as I hate to pat them on the back, it's precisely those qualities that saw Man U all the way through to the Treble. A team with less heart would have flagged before extra time and never got those goals in.

In France a couple of years ago, we were the match of Argentina and should have beaten them - we would have taken Holland apart again, for they were nowhere near their best. Out of Croatia, Germany, France and Brazil, the East Europeans were by far and away the most dangerous side, and really should have been in the final.

Brazil went into the tournament with completely the wrong attitude, assuming they'd walk it without having to try (much like the Red Devils recent trip to South AMerica), and came unstuck very spectacularly. The French simply are not a great side, even though they are at their best for twenty years - they lost their most outstanding defender before the final, and although they have excellent width in attack they sorely lacked a cutting edge. It was Laurent Blanc's goal that got them there! But, as we ourselves have shown, home advantage does add that extra 20% of belief and even more in spirit. It still remains, though, that they would never have beaten a Brazil which approached the final professionally - with or without the Ronaldo saga. And as World Champions, the extra spirit and confidence took them to an easy Wembley victory - I won't lay blame on the changed formation, some interesting team choices or just Wilkinson in general (even though he's managed to put a severe dent in the U21's record after pinching the job from the extremely successful Peter Taylor) - It just reinforces my belief that a team's spirit and resolve far outweighs the balance of the players (as long as there is not an absurd gulf in class) when it comes to the pitch.

I think you're quite right about Holland - the dressing room rifts of the past five or six years seem to be history, they have quality all over the cliche, and they're on home turf. But if we get everyone fit, play to our best examples and remain cautious of the mistakes, I think that we can get to the last four again no problem. And as we all know, anything can happen - the beauty of football is that the best team doesn't always win - am I the only one that finds number-crunching American sports like baseball and basketball mind-deadening dull? A goal carries so much more weight because there are so few scored. In Rugby they manage several dozen points over the 80 - so no single score (except a late winner) carries as much emotion as seeing that net bulge does for you or I (please correct me if I assume too much!).

The thing that gives me most heart though is a gem of a quote from Keggy that has been reprinted several thousand times:

"It has taken a while for me to grasp that you cannot play right-footed players on the left"

With that sort of clarity of thought, and hopefully purpose (and it is surely the quote he will be remembered for), anything can be achieved!

As you might have gathered, I'm on a night shift and have plenty of time to babble on. Good luck on Saturday! (Let me know your movements and perhaps we can rendezvous for a good luck pint somewhere?)

Thanks for those observations. There's no doubt at all that confidence is always a vital factor in football. I just wish I could say that I have some about tomorrow...
Ah well, we can but try. I'm meeting an old pal of mine called Mick (an occasional Bradford supporter for some years, although rumour has it that he's also occasionally been seen watching L***s United) in the bar at Euston Station at around 1pm tomorrow. After the match, I suspect that we'll just be finding the nearest friendly-looking pub in which to drown our sorrows...

Got the info too late I'm afraid, but well played sir.

As we all know football is full of "ifs" and yesterday was not the first time we've had a goal under siege (and to no avail) this season, but Lawrence's goal was pretty decent. And you can't fault a side that shows guts for the full ninety.

I'm gutted, of course. I was in the South stand, right above the goal, and felt I deserved to see that net bulge a few more times. But we all enjoyed your condemnation of the Gooners after kick-off - it's not often the away fans join in that one!

And for what it's worth - I do hope Bradford stay up. We need to see more movement between the divisions, and I for one would like to see at least one team make it each season. Barnsley and Charlton certainly had the heart, but it's goals that count in the end.

And if a few more big clubs spend a season below decks, you'll soon see the silly money transfer fees and wages come down a bit. They won't commit to that sort of outlay if Premiership TV income and prize money isn't guaranteed!