Brasil bound

Despite all of the fretting Roy Hodgson’s England made it through to the 2014 Brazil World Cup last night after beating Poland 2-0. Captain Stevie Gerrard in shades of Beckham putting a glorious end to the nail biting with a couple of minutes left.

Hodgson gets a bit of stick, but he is a media friendly steady eddie who has a fatherly relationship with players young and old and Roy did exactly what he was supposed to do and won the group, and on top of that came through 10 games undefeated.

Outside of major competitions I have little interest in the national team, and I doubt I’m alone. Nonetheless this fresh-faced group that ramped it up in the last two games and headed by Hodgson and with players like Baines and a sprinkling of exciting youngsters appear a lot more likeable. We live in hope at least.

Accrington Stanley have more chance of winning the World Cup, but it is all about being there and watching next summer’s games without a love interest would’ve been depressing as it has been many times before. The idea that missing a tournament will save our game is obviously rubbish.

The hope is not to be champions because that is plainly ridiculous, but to be proud of an England side that entertains. More samba than ballet.