ENGLAND

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19th June

The Secret Diary of Kevin Keegan (courtesy of/as pinched from eurofinals365.com)

People have been saying to me: "Hey! Kevin. Only one day to go." But that's not how I'm seeing it. I see it as there being still over two weeks to go until the final. And hey! if we believe in ourselves, maybe we'll be there. I know the lads are all dead keen to go. Scholesy wants Zidane's autograph. We've got no plans to go home early, no way. And then they say: "No, the Romania game, Kevin."

And I'm happy to talk about that as well. I'm always happy to talk about anything. The team, the fans, the game. Or the weather, or shopping or anything really. We went on a bonding shopping day to get ourselves ready for Romania, although Becks said it was boring and all the clothes in Belgium were sad. Still, he had to come, as the other lads are totally useless without him.

I'm a bit worried about these Romanians. They've come in for a lot of criticism in the press because they're too old, and when I last spoke to Tony Blair, he said the government had some problems with them on the tube or something. And we've all seen how totally unjustified criticism can motivate people. Just look at Alan Shearer. He's answered his critics in the only way he knows how: by heading in an easy chance and pushing his marker around a bit for the rest of the game. And, for me, that's why he's the best Newcastle number nine in the business.

ENGLAND : With the exception of Scholes and Beckham this is a very ordinary group of players, let's face it! Defensively the back four is eminently beatable, as the swift and technical Portuguese proved. What good is it if Adams and Campbell are "good in the air", if the Portuguese could launch attacks that kept the ball low and driven in the gaps left both by bewildered defensive midfielders and slow-reacting back four defenders? Answer : no good. The two early English goals were extremely well taken, yes, but England never looked like they could solve the possession problem they were faced with as Figo, Rui Costa and friends ran rings around them in midfield. "Horses for courses" is an old English expression, and it is fitting here. The wrong midfielders were selected and the wrong tactics to boot. Will someone please tell me why there is this hand-wringing worry in the English camp about finding the right partner for Shearer? Shearer is THE problem. Taking Michael Owen off for tactical reasons is the madness this obsession brings about. Ah well, bring on the Germans. That will change everything!

(Seamus Malin, www.fuxito.com")

Thu 15 June

Keegan brainstorms for victory

England coach Kevin Keegan has asked his players to take more responsibility on the field as the England camp attempts to digest the implications of squandering a two-goal lead against Portugal and gear up for the match against Germany that could decide their fate in these finals.
Dig deep into mental reserves Keegan urged the players to dig deep into their reserves of mental strength during a brainstorming session in which every squad member was asked to air their opinions. "The gaffer wanted a few people's opinions," said midfielder Dennis Wise, who is likely to play on Saturday in place of the injured Steve McManaman. "So we all sat down and put our thoughts across." Suggestions that the session represented a rerun of the famous player revolt at Italia 90 which persuaded then England manager Bobby Robson to change his system were quickly denied. "He just wanted to hear how we went a little bit wrong, what we felt we could have done," said Wise.

(euro2000.org)

Check out the Daily Mirror's game poking fun at the Brit TV coverage to come! Would like to see somebody poking fun at the "Mirror" - although they are right in this instance! :))