JUST three small syllables that mean so much: En-ger-land. They will ring out of pubs and front rooms across the land tonight as we unite behind our footballers as they play their first match of Euro 2000.

Despite the team barely limping into the finals, expectations are predictably sky high. We hope our players acquit themselves well on the pitch and our supporters behave themselves off it.

The players and the fans are now dreaming the same dream: Euro 2000's trophy held aloft by captain Alan Shearer in three weeks' time. Make no mistake: En-ger-land expects.