World Cup Watch: England v Ecuador

We're in the last eight. I don't know how they do it sometimes, certainly against the odds. Other teams making their way in seem to do it with relative ease, but we make it so difficult for ourselves.

It was an afternoon kick-off though, and incredibly hot and humid in Stuttgart.

I'm hoping if another version of Three Lions is ever produced, that in addition to "Psycho Screaming" and "Nobby Dancing" we can get "Beckham puking". He deserves it. The scorer of the only goal, direct from a free kick, low down into the corner, just onto the keepers' finger tip.

The heat must have got to him, either that or he chose the hotel seafood lasagne the previous night. Poor old Becks spent most of the second half vomming over the pitch, as against the Argies in the last World Cup. As will be happening long term in the future, he handed the captain's armband to John Terry.

Ashley Cole was the other hero of the afternoon. While still 0-0, he managed to race back and get a superb toe onto the shot from Ecuador which was enough to send the ball smacking back off the cross bar. The cross bar has saved us a few times now this campaign.

Wayne Rooney completed 90 minutes, and looked good, but isolated. Hopefully, Sven will have noted that he cannot play the lone striker role. He must play, and he must play next to somebody. And Aaron Lennon must play, after another great cameo.

The evening match saw Portugal v Holland, the winner being our opponent in the quarter final. Ivanov, the Russian referee, decided to make history by equalling the record number of WC yellow cards in a game - 16. And 4 reds! Ridiculous, but also great for us, as Costinha and the tricky Deco will now miss our game.

Maniche scored again for them, but we should be able to keep him comfortably quiet.

So now it comes down to Sven v Big Phil. Again. Big Phil was the desired successor to Sven, but we managed to balls that one up ourselves. He is also the man who has knocked us out of the last two major tournaments, Euro 2004 and World Cup 2002. Perhaps it will be third time lucky, or perhaps he's just much better than Sven...