But even I have to admit that that game against Algeria was a right ol' mess. I could sit here and write a scathing review about what went wrong for England last night, but I won't.
Because it's not just England that have been suffering by a lack of results (... although, in England's case, I'd say the lack of results are deserving of the lacklustre performances), other HUGE countries have been slipping up too - Germany, France and even pre-tournament favourites Spain. Evra's France especially have been looking quite poor—even worse than England.
Why has this World Cup really not lived up to the pre-tournament hype which surrounded it—bar the, at times, sublime Argentina?
Lots of blame has been put on the adidas Jabulani balls which have been designed specially for the WC. And on the evidence of most/all the matches that have come to pass, and pass is a co-incidentally apt word, when it comes to passing - especially long - the ball just doesn't seem to want to do what the footballers want it to.
How many times have you sat there, eyes glued to your 50-inch HD TV screen (... if applicable) mesmerised by the short passing around the centre circle, spotting the winger free on the right touchline in acres of space, baying for the switch and the imminent dash towards goal only to see the ball hit hopelessly high and wide and out of play?
Too many times.
Football's greatest event, where "millions of people come together to stand apart" as the ad goes, is experiencing quite poor football, in all honesty.
Although, I have to be honest, Spain played exquisite football and deserved to get more out of their game against the Swiss than a loss. Argentina, whose "demolition" of Korea has also been seen as evidence that there's nothing wrong with the balls, the pitches or the altitude, I guess can also qualify as one of those shining lights. And I guess Brazil too. Damn samba magicians.
But optimistically, from a United perspective, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez played a sparkling game against France, scoring the first and looking dangerous throughout. Exciting prospect for next season? I think so.
Evra's looking down and out with Les Bleus, while it's all square (basically) in Serbia's group, 3 teams on 3 points.
But what's worrying is the form of England - Rooney looking uninspiring - who'll have to absolutely trash group leaders Slovenia in order to have a chance of topping Group C and avoid playing the winners of Serbia's Group D - most probably Germany, despite their slip. ... Or Australia, you never know.
So what now? Andale Mexico!
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