3 CHEERS...

...for the English footballers, male and female, who won and lost big games with credit during the week. In the European Women's Championship final in Helsinki, England were beaten 6-2 by Germany who have won the title in each of the past four years. It was a considerable achievement for England to reach the final for the first time in 25 years and credit must go to the team's coach Hope Powell who almost single-handedly has raised the level of women's football in England in recent years. Plaudits also, of course, to coach Fabio Capello who showed that with the right leadership England beat Croatia 5-1 -- even if it also underlined the curious fact that England does not seem to have the managers to bring out the best in them when playing for their country. Qualification now assured, eyes are on the World Cup Finals in South Africa next year.