England V Wales
In some ways I am glad this game is over and done with now. As soon as the draw was made I think the majority of Welsh fans were looking to the England games.

With the first two results being poor this game took on an even added significance for Welsh supporters as a draw or a victory would put us right back in with a shout of even winning the group never mind going through as runners up!

So after this defeat Wales know that they are definitely scrabbling around for the other place alongside Poland and Austria so that must be the aim now.

Of more interest now is the managerial position. Should Wales appoint a "Welshman" only who can help maintain our so called passion and pride?

To hear some people talk, including seasoned professionals and pundits is that Wales have some sort of unique pride and passion that other countries don't have!

There was even talk from some quarters that Wales would outshine England in the "pride" stakes, our supporters would be louder etc, we care more about it than they do, the usual Celtic baloney that we like to trot out.

I think that myth was dispelled today. Looking at it objectively you can't get a more proud team and country than the English. Every time a major tournament comes around their country is alive with "national pride" which normally they aren't allowed to display due to political correctness.

You can't tell me players like Beckham, Neville, Ferdinand and Rooney aren't proud to play for their country?

The English supporters also, they have to rank alongside any in the world for pride and passion as much as some of us want to portray them as just knucklehead hooligans who like to boo other countries national anthems!

So the managerial situation is now a big talking point. The more I hear John Toshack talk the more I would like to see him take on the challenge of shaking Wales up and carrying on the good work that we've done over the last 4 years (except the last 3 games or so).

I think he can knock a few egos into shape and get the squad thinking a bit more professionally and his tactical knowledge should help in situations such as today where a last minute team change seemed to throw everyone off guard.

We could even go and appoint a "foreign" manager. There are plenty out there, there must be some really top class managers out of a job who would love the chance to manage an international country who play games in front of crowds of between 50 - 72000 surely!

Last point on this evening is we need to look at the likes of the Republic Of Ireland, they are proud, they've got a smallish squad, arguably do they have more quality than Wales?

They broke with tradition and appointed an Englishman in Jack Charlton who completely turned around their football and they've had a lot of good years where they've been turned from also rans to serious contenders. They keep grinding out results everywhere.

Northern Ireland Scotland and Republic Of Ireland have all qualified for major tournaments in my life time, I would like to see Wales emulate this sometime in the future even if I have to wait until I am 80, the law of averages suggests that one day Wales will fall lucky.