SO, that's it then. All over, finito, kaput. The World Cup, that is.

All right, there's the little matter of the semi-finals and final still to come.

But now that England have trooped home with their tails between their suntanned legs, well, it don't mean nuffink no more, as distinguished "analyst" Ian "Wrighty" Wright would have put it using a trademark double-negative, naturally had he not been showing how much he cared by sulking in sympathy with his old muckers on the pitch.

They think it's all over, it is now. Forty years of hurt, followed by 40 days and 40 nights of bitter recriminations.

But then, of course, the blind optimism will kick in again. As Sven's memoirs sit in the remainder bins, the red-tops will salivate over the brilliance of Lamps, Robbo and Wazza, their dismal displays in Germany suddenly yesterday's news.

It doesn't have to be like this, but it is. The cheap flag of St George will soon flutter once again as chauvinism triumphs over good old-fashioned love of football.

Of course, the World Cup isn't over yet, not by a long way, at least while Zinedine Zidane is in the mood to gift a legacy befitting his outrageous talent and immense grace and the Germans crackle with attacking intent.

The big lessons so far...

  • That saying about cheats never prospering it's not true. Despite that, though, if you don't want to get sent off, don't stamp on another player's family jewels.
  • If you can't use the ref as a scapegoat, blame Ronaldo instead. Anyone but the overpaid players you've been bigging up for months.
  • It doesn't matter where your manager comes from what matters is his ability to set up a side in the right formation and motivate the players within it. It also helps if he isn't too chummy with the star player.
  • All the pub bores and "expert" pundits who said Owen Hargreaves wasn't up to scratch will be wiping egg from their faces for a while yet.
  • Alan Hansen has obviously made a bet with someone who is paying him a fiver every time he mentions the word "grit". Or "determination".
  • Big boys don't cry? Don't you believe it. England may act tough but they're not ashamed to show their feminine side yet while Terry and co were obviously shedding tears of frustration and rage, was I the only one to get the impression that Beckham was perhaps blubbing out of self-pity?