SO the biggest game in the history of world football ever is nearly upon us - a slight over exageration, perhaps, but you wouldn't think so if you saw all the publicity for the match over here in Japan.

Yes, I've moved, although, sadly, the circumstances in which it came about were not quite what we'd wished.

Myself and Mrs P managed to get hold of some tickets for South Korea's second phase game with the Itais, and after one of the little men had done for the Azzuri - only to promptly get sacked by his Italian club (bad losers, or what!) - we got carried away in the general euphoria, so much so that Mrs P got trampled by a hoard of rampaging Korean maniacs.

She was OK, just, but she insisted that we left the beachside hut.

Never one too miss an opportunity, I thought we'd jet across to Japan to catch the England game, and, thanks to a few media friends of mine (and a few £50 notes!), I've managed to pick up some tickets. Who's a lucky bugger then?!

So, what's going to happen? Well, because this is the daftest football tournament ever invented, England will NEVER EVER have a better chance of lifting the World Cup.

Why? Because if they can beat the best attacking team in the tournament they will have too much firepower for the others.

But how do you stop Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho? Simple - you deny them space (or break their legs - a bit drastic me thinks!. The problem is how do you do that?

Right, let's indulge in a little bit of tactical talk for a minute.

Sven will probably line up with two banks of four, with the midfield quartet playing very narrow to restrict the Brazilians space.

When defending, the midfield can give the defence extra protection, but I would not recommend Sol and Rio even attempt to man-mark because they will get dragged all over the place and leave big holes in behind them.

The beauty of this formation is that when England attack, Becks and the international jet-setter can immediately spring wide, backed up by the full-backs, but if they get caught on the counter the formation can drop straight back into defensive mode.

But while the samba boys' forward line is hot, the defence are anything but.

Assuming, baby-faced assassion Owen is fit, and it looks like he will be, he will get chances, as will as Heskey, who will probably start, although I would go for Teddy for his ball retention abailities.

However, the biggest onus will be on Scholesy. Without a defensive midfielder to come up against, Ginge should find plenty of space to explode into the box, and use those deadly shooting boots to devastating effect.

As readers of this column know, I have been wary of making predictions in this World Cup. However, if Sven's men play to their best, and get the tactics right, I think they will win.

So what about the other quarters?

Next up, please, please let the Yanks beat the Krauts.

I hate the Americans for insisting on using the word soccer, but not as much as I detest the boring, predictable Germans.

Senegal v Turkey on Saturday is a different one to read, but I'll plump for another Senegalese shock.

But before that, we have the latest installment of a nation going completely ****ing mental.

On paper, as we all know, Spain should win, but would you fancy playing knowing a whole nation is against you? Put it like this, if the Dagos perform again like they did against the Irish, and sweaty armpits Comacho makes more inspiring substitutions, they are in for one almighty shock.

Come on Korea - and England, of course!

June 20, 2002 17:30