Things don't always go according to plan.

Just ask Glenn Hoddle, or for that matter Graham Taylor, or Bobby Robson, or even Ron Greenwood.

My original plan was to be installed on the couch with a supply of refreshments and watch my 'second country', the USA, as they attempted to get some points on the board in their final match against Yugoslavia.

Problem one was that the game selected by TV was Germany v Iran. So I decided to listen to Radio 5 Live while taking care of the resealing urgently needed around the bath/shower. Problem two - the main commentary match was Germany v Iran. Now when, as I do, you support a Football League club marooned in the lower divisions, and live outside the broadcast range of its local radio stations, waiting for score flashes is a familiar situation, and I have become a huge fan of Radio 5 Live.

Consolation at least - Jimmy Armfield, who I think is a superb, perceptive analyst, was covering the USA game, and he was on his own, much as he used to be in the Blackpool defence in his playing days.

With the well-oiled machine of Ron Jones "you just feel the Germans will win this about 2-0", Ian Brown, and Pat Nevin describing the well-oiled German machine, it was over to Nantes for Jimmy's first comments. "Four minutes gone and its 1-0 to Yugoslavia." Precise and to the point.

Somehow the evening then became very predictable.

"Well it's all very predictable here in Montpellier, the Germans are strolling to a 2-0 win. What's happening in Nantes, Jimmy Armfield?"

"Well it's all very predictable here as well, Ron."

With the plethora of camera angles and continual slow-motion replays of TV coverage becoming almost irritating, the simplicity of listening to radio commentaries is highly enjoyable, and Radio 5 Live have assembled a fine mixture of commentators and analysts who know what they're talking about. Over seven million people have tuned in to follow the World Cup action so far, beating the six million total for Euro 96.

With Scotland manager Craig Brown joining the team next week, at least it means Brown was correct when he forecast he would be in France for the knock-out stages.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.