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It was third time lucky for England cricketers this week as they trounced the Kiwi’s, there is even the slight possibility we might win an overseas series if things can be wrapped up Christchurch. Atherton seems to have evaded the chop temporarily and will no doubt walk out for the toss at Edgebaston in June, watch out for Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart trying to get him run out. Hopefully we can build on the last four performances to create a side with a hope of taking The Ashes on this summer. Since the tests will be contested on home soil, we won’t be suffering from the usual bout of travel sickness.
As there was no Premiership or Five Nations last weekend, I was nearly reduced to a trip to Brighton for the ‘Fans United’ match. Fans of every club in the country inspired Brighton to put five past Hartlepool in front of the season’s biggest crowd in the Third Division. Apparently they had Palace and Millwall fans holding hands, and Newcastle, Middlesborough and Sunderland cheering on the same team - amazing what Brighton can do for male bonding.
This week has already seen a few World Cup Qualifiers, Scotland came unstuck when the Estonians managed to turn up and with Mark Crossley deputising for the immortal Neville Southall, Wales managed to keep a clean sheet against the Irish. As you read this the result of England’s World Cup Qualification game against Italy will be known, I’ve already had to read about and listen to people discussing a probable team over and over again. Judging by how wrong all my predictions were last week I’m not going to have much luck predicting a team or a score. I would however expect Hoddle to go for Shearer and Ferdinand, which leaves the only decision of whether to play McManaman or Merson. Both players have proved that they can be as effective as Alessandro del Piero and one will inevitably be disappointed. I would imagine it will be a match with goals as both sides contain many flair players willing to have a go, the extent to which this will be limited will be decided by Maldini and Hoddle.
For those who haven’t been enlightened, if England have won and then go on to win the group they are assured an automatic place in the finals. If however they finish second in the group to the Italians they will have to play off against another second placed team from a different group at a neutral location for a place in the finals. I said I wouldn’t predict but I reckon it was 2-1 to England
