The England football team are all set to resume hostilities with their colonial cousins and War Of Independence rivals in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Also in group C are Algeria, and Slovenia, neither of whom, quite frankly, are up to much.
A much fancied England team were famously beaten 1-0 by the USA in the 1950 finals. Not that this reporter remembers that, but gnarled old chaps, generally pipe smokers in pubs still witter on about that match to this day.
Controversial as usual, David Beckham declined to comment as he assisted Charlize Theron in the draw.
England, third favourites to win the trophy are generally expected by the experts to go into the finals with high hopes, and weighed down by expectation. Then make a right b*ll*cks of it and come home with their tails between their legs. As usual.
More as we get it.
