We used to be good at football - Graeme Urwin

Well we did didn't we?

England I mean.

Actually I mean to some extent both Irish teams, Wales and Scotland as well!

In the European Championships next year, not one of these teams will be competing. I concede that Scotland did well and nearly got through a tricky group, and if Andorra had held Russia (!) England would have crept in etc etc - but really it does not wash!

I'll stick with England here as they are my team. Let's have no illusions here, we have not won anything since 1966, so what right have we to expect that we will win anything?!

Well, I suppose at least Ericcson got us through the qualifiers, and then we would fall down. Bobby Robson nearly got us into the World Cup final in 1990, but of course the Germans beat us on penalties again. In 1996, Venables got us playing and we woke up briefly to hammer the Dutch.

It's not so much the failing that gets me, it's more the manner in which we fail. Looking at the recent England games, I can't help get the feeling that there's something missing. What is it that happens when our 'world class' players pull on an England shirt?

Taking the Croatia game as an example, we 'only' needed a draw. Most of us were probably confident of at least achieving that. But what happened? We looked like a pub team playing a professional outfit! The Croations, hats off to them, were excellent. They kept and passed the ball well, even on a pitch that most pub teams would be embarrased by, while we slid around like elephants on ice.

They deservedly won, and believe me it pains me to say it. To cap it all, Michael Owen then has the audacity to say that none of the Croatian players would get into the England team!! What planet does this guy live on?

Then there is the issue of the F.A. making the team play in Austria in a meaningless friendly just 5 days before the Croatia game! Why?

Deep breath!

I suppose like many football fans, I fear that the game has lost its soul.

Money is the thing.

Football clubs are businesses. Top players can earn £50-150,000 per week. I really question how many of these players play because of their love for the game, or is it for the cash?

As for talent coming through, the youngsters who are really good seem to be in short supply. Theories here of course abound, and it's likely to be a mix of reasons such as there are lots of other things for children to do, and a lack of 'hunger' to succeed?

Anyway - enough. I can always look forward to my team Sunderland's next game can't I? 

Oh, hang on…

Chelsea!

Away!

See you next month.