HERE'S a day for sporting hope - and desperation.

First, the cricket. Here at least there is hope, rocketing hope, that England could regain the Ashes at the Oval. Many think this to have been the best Test series ever and the national mood has been buoyed tremendously by the rediscovery of cricket.

How depressing, then, to have to bring up the football.

England's performance last night against Northern Ireland was woeful beyond belief. The beleaguered England manager vows he will not resign, but any more matches like that and Sven will have to be on his way.

Updated: 10:19 Thursday, September 08, 2005