Last week's game against Trinidad & Tobago, the World Cup debutantes, was an all-too-familiar nerve-wracking experience, at least for the first 70 minutes.
I make no claims for great sporting prowess nor football insights, but like many people I enjoy taking an armchair interest in major sporting events, like the World Cup.
National sporting success does spur us to get up and do something more energetic. Last month I did the Bridgnorth to Brown Clee (and back) sponsored walk, some 20 miles up and down hill. Within a week my family and I managed a marathon distance, on bicycles, on thankfully much flatter terrain.
I hope England's success in qualifying and getting through to the knock-out stage will inspire more of us not just to watch but to play.
Hosting major international events has an even bigger impact. The Shropshire Youth Games last weekend was already seeking out home-grown potential Olympic talent for 2012. If we can secure a role for Much Wenlock when the Olympics Roadshow rolls through next month, this will give a huge boost to sport in our community.
Meanwhile I will be egging our boys on to victory in Germany, each game at a time. With the pressure off tomorrow, I'm sure they'll play a dream game.
