and the atmosphere builds from the moment you walk down Wembley Way.
At the entrance to the stadium stands Bobby Moore capturing our finest
moment. Tonight is also the first time the new three lions kit goes on
sale. Without doubt it's our finest kit building on tradition and
quality. Credit cards are handed over as both kids and adults pull on
the new shirt, at £50 a shirt it isn't cheap but you have to pay for
class. The new badge is a throw back to a time long forgotten in
Englands history.
The loudest cheer is reserved for David Beckham the most capped out
field player and one who is proud to play for his country.
Everywhere in the stadium fans wear the three lions and the stadium
is decked out in St George flags flying in the evening breeze.
Coventry is represented, there's even a Leicester City one... For one
night I put away the hatred of our first division neighbours.
As kick off aproaches the atmosphere continues to build. Yesterdays
England songs are played, Coming Home rocks out and you know the kick
off is close.
At the old Wembley in Euro 96 teams were not used to the wall of noise. Tonight it's not quite the same and the song is intrupted by a Nationwide advert, old England fans shake their heads in disbelief. The only thing left sacred is the non advertising of the England shirt. Even the players now have a made to measure kit.
The flags of both counties are presented to the crowd to the sound of
the great escape. The players walk out to a full house and the noise is deafening. As one every fan stands to sing God Save the Queen. Wembley has come a long way since the first ever international back in 1872 and I would never have imagined an Italian manager would be in charge of our
national team. To his credit Fabio Capello has taken England to a new
level and there is an air of confidence all around.
Cameras and mobile phones flash all around and fans at both ends raise
the flag of St George. Behind a group of fellow Coventry fans sing
"let's sing together".
The teams shake hands and John Terry leads the England team in a
minutes silence to mark the death of fellow African football fans. The
Ukraine fans are booed for failing to observe it. The Ukraine win the toss and kick off.
In the 29th minute England go one nil up and to the delight of the
crowd Peter Crouch celebrates by "pulling the rope".
At Half-Time, ex Coventry and England international John Salako goes in
goal for the penalty shoot out and saves none out of the first 11
shots and then 2 out of the next three.
Out of 1,158 players that have played for England only 11 were born in
Warwickshire.
On the 57 minute cometh the hour cometh the man, Becks enters the
arena. On the 85th minute he delivers a pin-point free kick for John
Terry to put England ahead and at 15-1 as last goal scorer with a
tenner on I win £150 and with it England are now certain to qualify
for the World Cup. Happy days.