When the players of FC Haka of Finland walked off the pitch at Turner’s Cross in July 2008 following an entertaining 2-2 draw, few of the home fans could have predicted that it would be seven long years before the ground would hold another European club fixture.

It’s time again to dust off the joke book and dig up those old enmities.

You gotta larf. The only other option is to cry, to look ahead to next summer’s World Cup with a knowing dread and to what will, on all recent form, be another public bout of self-flagellation on the part of the England football team, its supporters and a media that feeds off the national XI like a shoal of sharks.

For all the fears harking back to 1973, England now only need to look forward to 2014.

Dropping Greaves a brave call

Helenio Herrera was in one of his more abrasive, arrogant moods. But then, he had cause to be. His Barcelona had just battered Wolves 9-2 on aggregate in the 1959-60 European Cup and, at Birmingham airport, he was holding court.

Norway 0 England 1

Five-and-a-half hours.

IT was the Irish writer Flann O’Brien who said that questions are like beggars at the door, and should not be minded.

Xavi has admitted Spain need to find their killer touch if they are to win the World Cup tomorrow.

Germany 4 England 1

AS inspirational speeches go, Alex Ferguson’s pre-match encouragement for his slumping Manchester United players had some way to go to match Alf Ramsey at the 1966 World Cup Final, but, as veteran defender Gary Neville revealed, it was still sufficient to catapult his team back into title contention.

IT’S reassuring to see that, as usual, England’s preparations for a big tournament are going swimmingly.

WHEN Bobby Robson spoke, invariably there was passion in his voice, a twinkle in his eye and laughter rarely far away.

JON STEAD has echoed Roy Keane’s assertion that Ipswich Town need to ‘get down and dirty’ if they are to return to the Premier League.

Incoming manager Roy Keane is ready to write a new chapter in Ipswich's history.

IT was the gasp that gave it away. When Nico Kranjcar’s streaky long-range shot bounced off Scott Carson’s chest and skidded into the bottom corner o f his net, it sounded as if Wembley had been winded.

SOCKS rolled down round his ankles, sweat staining his shirt, legs and lungs still pumping when others were out on their feet.

England World Cup winner Alan Ball has died aged 61.

POLAND coach Pawel Janas is refusing to draw comparisons between his current squad and the team who finished third the last time the World Cup was staged in Germany.

One man’s sound reasoning is another’s rant. Here Colm O’Connor remembers those men who lost their rag so memorably at the World Cup.

Wayne Rooney insists England can lift the World Cup next summer.

Three of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team are up against Live Aid and Billy the White Horse in a poll to decide the name of a state-of-the-art footbridge at the new Wembley stadium - but Roy Keane has not made the shortlist.

WORLD CUP hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst has accused David Beckham of "bringing the country into disrepute" in deliberately getting himself suspended for tonight's World Cup tie in Azerbaijan.

Poland 1 England 2

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has insisted he is not living in fear of being sacked ahead of tomorrow’s vital World Cup qualifier in Poland.

More plaudits will be heaped on England’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward today when he is presented with the UK coach of the year award by Princess Anne.

APART from the obvious financial windfall for the RFU and the Clive Woodward’s 30-man squad, the greatest profit from England’s narrow World Cup final victory over Australia could potentially come from the new-found popularity of the sport across the Irish Sea.

THIS 2002 World Cup has given us much to be thankful for, wonderful moments, brilliant performances, numerous memories to savour … and that’s just the TV coverage.

By Frank Malley

Geoff Hurst believes Darius Vassell could be England's lethal weapon as they gear up for their opening clash with Sweden.

England's 1966 World Cup heroes have led the tributes to Kenneth Wolstenholme, who has died at the age of 81.

A mystery phone bidder today bought former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks's 1966 World Cup winners medal for stg£124,750.