All in all, it has not been a bad couple of weeks.

Roy Keane gets found out for what he really is, Queen Elizabeth celebrates 50 years on the throne, England beat Argentina, Lennox knocks out Tyson and Falmer gets the thumbs-up.

France and Argentina come home from the World Cup before their postcards and the King of rock'n'roll, Elvis Presley, achieves a record 18th No.1 hit 25 years after his untimely death.

Can it get any better? Yes it can, at Heathrow Airport on Monday week, with David Beckham standing on the steps of Concorde with the FIFA World Cup and, no doubt, President Blair on the tarmac desperate to muscle in.

Fantasy football? Think again.

Two weeks ago, when all the doom and gloom merchants were slagging off Sven and his team after a below-par performance against Sweden, I reminded readers about the victorious Italian side of 1982. They got a start that made a tortoise look like Jackie Stewart.

This is England's best chance to win the trophy since 1966. The team boasts a number of world class players who are, of course, a pre-requisite for winning football's premier honour.

I suggested England may have five or six players in this category. A number of readers questioned my selection of Rio Ferdinand in this group. I doubt anyone will ask the question again.

Tournament favourites Brazil are England's next opponents. Although they are still a very good side, they are not the kind of great team we have come to expect from this South American country.

They are in a transitional stage, haven't really impressed, were in an easy group and made hard work of beating Belgium.

The last time England and Brazil met in the World Cup was 1970 and many observers say Sir Alf Ramsay's team were the only team to really give Pele and Co a run for their money on their way to winning the Jules Rimet trophy outright.

This time England will never have a better chance of winning.

The defence is solid and although there have been flashes, I maintain we've yet to see the best of Owen and Beckham, who are without question two of the finest players on the planet.

I think England will win on Friday and from then on it's really in our own hands.

So what about the other side of the draw? Germany seem to be advancing easily through the competition but how they will fare against decent opposition remains to be seen.

Their first big test will be in the semi-finals against either South Korea or my pre-tournament tip, other than England that is, Spain.

They may have made heavy work of Ireland, as did the Krauts, but I still think Spain have the quality to beat both Germany and South Korea.

As much as I'd like to see an England v Spain final, I don't really mind whether it's South Korea, Germany or America, just so long as England win.

Even before the ITV digital farce, I was always a fan of the BBC's coverage. The Beeb seem to have the edge in every department, apart from using that halfwit Ian Wright.

When Sven originally got the England job, Wright constantly slagged off the appointment. He has already changed his tune but if things were to turn out for the best in the next ten days I wonder if a full public apology will be forthcoming?

Somehow I doubt it, but enjoy the game anyway. I certainly will.