ENGLAND CRASH AND BURN.

True to form, England are on the point of elimination for the football World Cup, while having won the war of media drivel quite comfortably.

Indeed, if there was a medal for talking a good game, England would be champions year after year. The pundits on television, radio and in print never stop telling us how good our players are, though, for once, they did not raise expectations as high as they might have done. Just as well.

Yesterday's game against Uruguay, a nation with little more than one fifteenth of our population, produced excessive chat about when Rooney would score and many shouts of "Better" from one of the commentators, but little real commentary. In the end, England's shortcomings were exposed - failure to take advantage of good positions, an ability to ignore dangerous ones - and the one world class player on the pitch, Luis Suarez, made them pay. In truth, I don't think England played badly, but they simply don't have players of the necessary calibre. Sterling, Sturridge, Cahill, Rooney and Henderson all had their moments but Hart looked out of his depth, the defence was shaky and the mid-field did too little.

All hope now rests on Italy beating both Costa Rica and Uruguay while, even then, England would have to beat Cost Rica by enough of a margin to go through on goal difference. It could happen, but it's not a gamble to bet one's house on. Of course, the pundits have been having a field day, discussing what went wrong, who else should have been in the team, what could have been done differently and whether or not the manager has a future. Given the limited choice of limited players, it's hard to see any changes that would have made much difference, and what rationale there could be for sacking the manager escapes me. As with any side, the manager needs time to assess his players and build a team - Hodgson has had far too little time to do either and must surely be allowed to carry on to the next World Cup in 2018 although, at 64,  he was far too old when appointed in May 2012.

If England are ever to climb the heights again, they need certain things. Firstly, a younger manager who can be given at least 10 years to build his team. Secondly, many more young English players appearing regularly in the Premier League and playing at the top level; the prominence of foreign imports has to be reduced. Thirdly, less hype and celebrity status for these overpaid prima donnas. What chance is there of all, or any, of this occurring ?

ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP GLOOM.

Almost before it's even begun, it looks as though England's world cup bid may be over. Last night's defeat against Italy makes it very difficult for 'our boys' to make it through to the last 16 and an exit at the Group stage looks a distinct possibility, especially after Uruguay's failure against the supposed minnows from Costa Rica.

England tried hard but were simply not good enough. The much lauded talents of Gerrard and Rooney failed to materialise and while they huffed and puffed they found it impossible to blow down the Italian house. In fact, after the first few minutes, England created few truly threatening positions; their goal was a great piece of flowing football but other opportunities were wasted by poor play in and around their opponents penalty area. Raheem Sterling was their outstanding player by a country mile, while no one else achieved much of note. The truth is that we have few, if any, world class players and the sooner we accept this, the better.

Oh for the finishing of Arjen Robben or Robin van Persie. These two showed how it should be done with magnificent performances in the match between Holland and Spain. Current champions, Spain, were simply blown away by some superb play from the Dutch and, in particular, by some brilliant finishing from Robben and van Persie. These two are WORLD CLASS, Gerrard, Rooney and the rest are not and never will be; good, yes, but World Class, not a chance.

For England, all now rests on Thursday's game against Uruguay, a side who will be equally desperate for a result. It's likely to be a cracker and defeat will almost certainly mean an early flight home, but for which side ?

CANADIAN GRAND PRIX DELIVERS THE GOODS.

How nice to see a Formula One race with drivers who appreciate each other's talents without enmity.

Following the recent antics of Lewis Hamilton, being a very childish and miserable loser, today's Canadian Grand Prix, a terrific race by the way, has been won by the 'new boy' Daniel Ricciardo. The prize giving demonstrated all of the best of real sportsmanship - Ricciardo oh-so-happy but without any attitude, Vettel so pleased for his team mate and with no animosity, and Rosberg thanking his lucky stars that he'd managed to finish at all. The champagne flowed with genuine enthusiasm and pleasure from all concerned.

Compared with the recent Hamilton shows of puerile petulance, this was a return to the real spirit of this great and dangerous sport. Hamilton may be a fine driver but he's not a good sportsman; Ricciardo, Vettel and Rosberg appear to be exactly what Hamilton is not - both great athletes and great sportsmen.  

More power to their elbows.

NADAL - KING OF CLAY.

And so the French Open Tennis Championships are over after 2 incredible singles finals.

On Saturday, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep fought an amazing battle before Sharapova came out as the winner. After just over 3 hours of brutal conflict, the giant Russian beat the comparatively diminutive Romanian, more by sheer willpower than anything else. It was only during the presentations that Sharapova's true physical presence became apparent, as she stood alongside the great Chris Evert; Sharapova was revealed as being at least half a foot taller and wider than the champion of yesteryear and her legs were like tree trunks beside those of the 'tiny' Evert. That said, Halep, while lacking inches in height, lacked none of the bulk of modern players and she will be a genuine contender for Grand Slam titles, and the number 1 spot, for many years to come.

The men's final, between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovich was almost a let down, though another amazing match. After winning the first set and looking likely to give the champion a real run for his money, Djokovich almost faded away, losing the next 3 sets and rarely looking like a probable winner. He had his moments but it was Nadal who held the whip hand, increasingly so after he levelled the match by winning the second set. Nadal simply ground his opponent into the red clay of Roland Garros.

Nadal is, without doubt, the greatest clay court player ever. Throughout his career, clay has been his surface and he has been virtually unbeatable, whoever the opposition. His ninth French Open title brings his overall Grand Slam total to 14 wins and he threatens to attack Roger Federer's record of 17; will he get there ? If he does, will it make him the greatest player ever ? In my view, no. Federer won 4 Australian, 5 USA and 7 Wimbledon to go with his 1 victory in France; Nadal has 2 Wimbledon, 2 US and 1 Australian alongside his 9 French titles, his record being heavily dominated by his own domination on clay. Federer won 3 of the major events in one season on three occasion, Nadal has managed this once; indeed, but for Nadal, it seems likely that Federer would have achieved multiple "Grand Slams", winning all 4 events in a calendar year. Between 2004 and 2007, Federer won 11 of the 16 Grand Slam events on offer, and was twice the runner up to Nadal in Paris. Nadal's history has no such sequence of success, his overall record being heavily biased by his astonishing success at one tournament.

One thing that is clear is that, good though he is, Andy Murray is not quite in the same league as today's 'Big 2'. That doesn't mean he won't retain his Wimbledon crown but it certainly isn't going to be easy. On grass, even the old man, Federer, comes back into the equation and the big servers will also have their say. Bring it on !

MAURESMO TO WIN MURRAY SLAMS ?

Andy Murray has appointed Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach, replacing Ivan Lendll.

The question has to be "Why" ? Murray, as a double Grand Slam winner, needs little more than advice from the side lines on opponents vulnerabilities, his own style of play against specific individuals and a bit of psychological boosting. The first 2 he surely has from his existing team of coaches and helpers, the last is what he employed Lendll for. Lendll, of course, was a multiple finalist before winning a Grand Slam event, as was Murray, but he did go on to win 8 such events, making him one of the most successful players in tennis history. There was some logic to his appointment as Murray's coach.

Mauresmo, very good player though she was and a World number 1, struggled mightily when it came to winning Grand Slams. After reaching the final of the Australian Open when aged 19, Mauresmo had to wait another 7 years before she again experienced a Grand Slam singles final, finally winning the Australian championship in 2006 when Justine Henin was forced to retire through injury. That year, she also succeeded in winning the Wimbledon title, also against Henin, though on this occasion it was a full three set match. Nonetheless, Mauresmo's Grand Slam record is hardly that impressive and she has no obvious track record as a coach since her retirement in 2009. She did, admittedly, coach Marion Bartoli prior to her 2013 Wimbledon triumph but only became Bartoli's coach shortly before the tournament. Her other charges, Michel Llodra and Victoria Azarenka, were not noticeably improved by her presence.

Mauresmo has no personal understanding of the male game or psyche, and has little personal success at Grand Slam level; she was considered to be psychologically frail when it came to important matches. What does Murray think that Mauresmo can bring to his game ? How can she possibly be the right choice ? Or am I simply missing the point ?

IS QATAR WORLD CUP DEAD ?

No one in their right mind can surely have thought that the award of the 2022 football World Cup to the stupidly hot and incredibly minor country of Qatar was anything but suspicious. The allegations now published by the Sunday Times, to the effect that large bribes were paid by the Qatari representative to FIFA in order to secure the tournament for that country, add fuel to the already lively flames.

Whether or not there has been corruption, the stink is there. The evidence is mounting that there may well be more than simple stink. There is also the lunacy of having to play a World Cup in the middle of most European domestic seasons as that is the only time when temperatures in Qatar are even close to what might be considered reasonable for running around and kicking a ball.

Qatar never should have been awarded the tournament. However, there now has to be a worry that the latest revelations are part of an orchestrated scheme to have it taken away from them. While this seems unlikely, whether or not it is, the allegations have to be investigated; regardless of the outcome, the tournament should be moved and Sepp Blatter, the longstanding boss of FIFA must finally go. His number is up.

HAMILTON AND McILROY : CHILDREN, NOT MEN.

Why are young British sportsmen often so puerile ?

In the last few days, Lewis Hamilton, undoubtedly a very good driver, has shown the petulance one might expect from a 10 year old. His appalling behaviour during the 4 days of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend showed that this spoilt child has no grace or sportsmanship. Whether or not his teammate, Nico Rosberg, deliberately ran off of the circuit in qualifying, Hamilton's subsequent show of sullenness and irritability was childish in the extreme. This man needs to grow up.

Over at Wentworth, another young man did rather better but still demonstrated a lack of maturity. Rory McIlroy had apparently been planning marriage to his girlfriend of a couple of years, Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, nad the couple had even sent out wedding invitations. Suddenly, McIlroy, who is hardly a child at 25, decided that he "was not ready for marriage", this after he and Wozniacki had been together for close to 3 years. How is it that living together for 3 years had not prepared him for marriage ? Clearly and in common with much of today's youth, he has no understanding or desire for commitment or responsibility and prefers to be footloose and fancy free, a state much more suited to a selfish child or teenager than a man in his mid-twenties.

While McIlroy put his issues behind him and won the Wentworth golf tournament, Wozniacki seems to be devastated and was considering pulling out of the French Open Tennis tournament; it appears that she's changed her mind on this score but I don't give much for her chances of success.

The behaviour of Hamilton and McIlroy shows just how low modern youth has sunk. These spoilt kids, like far too many of their British contemporaries, never grow up. Until they do, they will never be true world beaters, just selfish, sulky children.