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Thursday, 29 June 2006, 12:46 GMT 13:46 UK

Adrian Chiles on supporting England

By Adrian Chiles
BBC Match of the Day presenter in Berlin

It's been a fantastic experience for me so far - probably the best gig I've ever had.

Before I went out to Germany I didn't really think that there was a job for me where I would do nothing for a month but watch football and broadcast about it. Superb.

Wayne Rooney and David Beckham

I have to admit I was the typical England fan, wanting us to meet and beat Germany at the World Cup, but I then thought "why am I saying that" because the people in Berlin have been brilliant.

The Berliners are not supposed to be the friendliest, according to other Germans, but everybody has been bending over backwards for us and been charming.

There's also been a lot of goodwill towards England.

An hour before the first England match, I was watching the television in my hotel room and they had a countdown to kick-off.

Then on my way to the office I went into a mobile phone shop and the assistant looked up at me and said, "Oh, England fan, just 50 minutes to go now". That was priceless.

Since that opening game, Sven-Goran Eriksson's boys have done rather well, without ever looking like world beaters.

The question is, when we come up against a really decent side - Portugal - will we look like world beaters?

The professionals and pundits I've been with have said that you can only defeat what's put in front of you.

And I suppose, it's facile to suggest that just because England haven't looked imperious so far doesn't mean they can't turn it on in the big game.

"I really don't care how we win"

If we beat the Portuguese then we'll have momentum, we would have found form and the nation will go mad.

My colleague Gary Lineker made a good point when he said the other big teams have been criticised by their supporters and press.

The Italians, French and Brazilians have had their share of negative comments, although the Germans have come out with credit from their games.

I heard that even Fifa president Sepp Blatter has had a pop at England, believing that they haven't been playing offensive football. Frankly, what Blatter says is inconsequential.

I actually think the 4-5-1 system against Ecuador worked well, especially in that heat.

Admittedly, we hoofed the ball up to Wayne Rooney too much, but overall he played well and it was some achievement of Rooney to keep running the whole game while Michael Carrick looked very promising in his holding-midfielder position.

We have been labelled as boring and there are calls for us to play more attractive football, but I really don't care how we win.

However, the problem with limp performances is that sooner or later you're going to lose and that won't look good at all.




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Related to this story:

England v Portugal (29 Jun 06 |  World Cup 2006 )
Beckham up for physical challenge (29 Jun 06 |  England )
Eriksson defends management style (29 Jun 06 |  England )
Portugal angry with English press (29 Jun 06 |  Portugal )
England 1-0 Paraguay (10 Jun 06 |  World Cup 2006 )
England 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago (15 Jun 06 |  World Cup 2006 )
Sweden 2-2 England (20 Jun 06 |  World Cup 2006 )
England 1-0 Ecuador (25 Jun 06 |  World Cup 2006 )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Fifa World Cup site
Explanation of tournament rules and regulations
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