OH dear! It was all going so well with the country and more importantly the national media behaving responsibly and not getting carried away with England's progress in Euro 2012.

But now that the Three Lions have won their group to clinch a quarter-final tie against Italy, everybody seems to think that this England team is better than it really is.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

LOVE the idea being suggested by a part-time professional league which operates in the north of England.

The Northern League, said to be one the world's oldest professional leagues, is set to introduce “secret shoppers” to spot officials and players who swear during games.

THE mouth-watering attraction of the Real Madrid versus Barcelona Champions League semi-final first leg will ensure that the normal parochial English football fans will be glued to their television screens this week.

For some, it will be an even greater attraction than Manchester United’s game at Schalke.