England showed today how much winning meant to them.
The players were completely exhausted by the end because they worked so very hard to make a nation proud of them once again. The committed, fearless, last-ditched defending was the typical England fight that the world (sometimes) fears. We didn't make it to the top, but our players certainly haven't peaked in this tournament and that means our team hasn't peaked which can only mean an even better performance against Germany.
I have no problem with playing Germany. They are a good, successful footballing side with a better history than us, but I feel that we can beat them. Germany won against Ghana - not by a great margin, and I have no doubts at all that England are a better team than Ghana, especially in the defensive department. If the team turn up and start to play with pace - closing down the opposition and putting pressure on them as well as keeping the ball well, we will win.
Rooney didn't have a great game, and we will continue to make excuses for him when he misses good opportunities, but he definitely improved from the last two games which I dare to mention. Gerrard is adamant that goals are "round the corner" for Rooney, and I'm sure that when he gets one - which he will, he can continue to do so. In addition, his partnership with Defoe, being supported by Gerrard and with Lampard making dangerous runs into the box was very effective. While they still had something left in the tank, they were very dangerous and given those sort of opportunities again, they will take them.
It is time for England to stand up and be counted. Against Germany, we must show them our passion and skill. We must show them why we are a team to be feared. And we must show them why we are contenders to win the World Cup. As the Carlsberg advert says "It's time to join the immortals".
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