The Greatest Squad of My Life (Part II)

And so to continue with the concluding part of my best ever squad. I won't explain the premise again - for that you'll need to read part 1.

So here goes with squad numbers 12 to 22...

12. Henry (FRA)
Other candidates: Kahn (GER); Giresse (FRA); Krol (NED)

13. G. Mueller (WG)
Other candidates: Ballack (GER); Voller (GER); Neeskens (NED); Kempes (ARG)

14. Cruyff (NED)
Other candidates: Overmars (NED); Scifo (BEL); Amokachi (NIG); Boksic (YUG); Tigana (FRA); Armstrong (NIR); Julio Cesar (BRA); Tardelli (ITA)

15. Platini (FRA)
Other candidates: R. Baggio (ITA); Prosinecki (YUG); Passarella (ARG); Falcao (BRA); Rensenbrink (NED)

16. Scholes (ENG)
Other candidates: Barthez (FRA); Conti (ITA); Lato (POL); Robson (ENG); Whiteside (NIR); Rep (NED)

17. Papin (FRA)
Other candidates: Petit (FRA); Quinn (IRE); Vialli (ITA); Branco (BRA)

18. Klinsmann (GER)
Other candidates: Leboeuf (FRA); R.Baggio (ITA); Altobelli (ITA); Rocheteau (FRA); Socrates (BRA); Matthaeus (WG); Bettega (ITA); Boniek (POL); Souness (SCO); Tarantini (ARG)

19. Gascoigne (ENG)
Other candidates: Crespo (ARG); Schillaci (ITA); Nicholas (SCO); Allofs (WG); Barnes (ENG); Graziani (ITA); Passarella (ARG); Law (SCO)

20. Owen (ENG)
Other candidates: Trezeguet (FRA); Ronaldo (BRA); Rossi (ITA); Beardsley (ENG); Boniek (POL); Tarantini (ARG)

21. Vieri (ITA)
Other candidates: Nuno Gomes (POR); Caniggia (ARG); Zola (ITA); Vialli (ITA); Rossi (ITA)

22. Shilton (ENG)
Other candidates: Khan (GER); Negrete (MEX); Villa (ARG)

"Jamaica? No, she went of her own accord..."

And so it came to pass that England finished their World Cup preparations with a fine 6-0 victory over Jamaica on Saturday. The choice of opponents was interesting in that Sven obviously wanted someone weak enough to beat convincingly, thus motivating his entire team, however Jamaica should be seen as being comparable with Trinidad and Tobago, England's opponents on June 15th. At least it was a more justifiable choice than Germany's when they played Luxembourg recently, beating them 7-0.

So what do the Sunday papers make of yesterday's performance? Well the Telegraph seems to be hailing Peter Crouch as perhaps the answer to all our fears, suggesting that, despite starting his England career as a joke figure, he is in the current circumstances "virtually indispensable". Not sure about that myself, but a hat-trick yesterday won't have done anybody any harm.

The Observer is similarly complementary about Crouch's performance saying "the tall striker has answered all his many doubters in the best possible way" before reminding us quite rightly that "England cannot play Jamaica every week". If only.

Much was said about Crouch's poorly taken penalty, not least from Eriksson who told us that "...[Crouch] came to me and apologised about that. He took it in a jokey way, not seriously, and I don't like to see that." Very reassuring, especially given England's record when it comes to sudden-death penalty shoot-outs.

The Observer goes on to note that none of England's first-half goals came from open play - a worry given their attack-minded midfield - but at least Michael Owen was back on the scoresheet again. The Mail on Sunday's Ian Ridley remarked that it would "deliver him a welcome shot of confidence for a tournament in which he has always before come alive".

Ridley also highlighted the sense of self-destruction in the Jamaican camp which led as much to the visitors' downfall as anything England did on the day. Watford's Marlon King was sent home from the training camp after a row that followed their 4-1 loss to Ghana last week, and Jamaica started the match on Saturday with a booking for Jermaine Taylor before he went on to head into his own net. Daley later did likewise with his foot.

So all in all then, we can go into the World Cup Finals next week with a renewed sense of vigour and optimism, but how far can we go with the players available? How far will we go with the Coach's tactical astuteness? And not only that - do we HAVE to keep seeing Crouch doing that body-popping cobblers?

Where Are They Now? : David James

Ever wondered what happened to the former goalkeeping maestro that was a collosus for West Ham, Manchester City and England?

Portman and Emma appear to have the answer. It seems the wicked witch at the FA has cast a spell on him, turning him into...

Theres always a ‘Plan B’…

So your nation doesn’t qualify for the World Cup finals - now what are you going to do? Well, how about supporting another nation, preferably one that your biggest rivals are due to play?

That’s what the Scottish are doing. They have adopted Englands Group B opponents Trinidad and Tobago as there home nation by proxy. Replica home shirts for Trindad and Tobago are selling faster than deep-fried Mars bars, most of which are heading north of the border.

There are six players in the Trinidad squad who ply their trade in the Scottish League, but the most popular one of all is the St Johnstone striker named Jason Scotland. Just imagine it - you could have the added bonus of having ‘SCOTLAND’ emblazoned across the back of your brand new Trini shirt.

What more could the Scottish wish for? Apart from a Scottish 2006 World Cup kit, that is…