There is though a resonance to this fleeting emotion which is not to be ignored

There is, though, a resonance to this fleeting emotion which is not to be ignored.I like to think the sentiment has its roots in recent sporting history rather than my own cultural heritage. Because that makes it easier.I am recalling now the comics of my youth – the Victor, Tiger and Hurricane. The latter’s eponymous hero, Captain Hurricane, would habitually brush aside the carping rhetoric of his faithful batman and bare down upon nests of German machine-gunners in an indomitable “towerin’ fury” before hurling the said gunners to all corners of the environment.As they sailed out of the picture, the Germans always said the same thing. In the language of the Sixties comics, “ach” was the German expostulation of choice.

Japanese soldiers, on the other hand, cried “ayee!” And British Tommies, in the rare event of their encountering anything more damaging than a winged arm, exclaimed “aargh!”That was how it was.Unlike me, my son does not constantly see or read about Germans being the enemy For him, enemy means Ivan Ooze, Darth Vader or Lord Zed I am pleased about that. It still, though, leaves the problem of me.As I say, I prefer to think my sudden upsurge of anti-Germanic feeling stemmed from the memory of sporting hurts.The 1966 World Cup was the first time football registered on my consciousness, and by the time England played West Germany in the final I was sweaty- palm desperate for them to win. They did so, of course, presenting me with a dangerous precedence: England beat Germany at football.Like a first-time winner barging back into the betting shop for easy money, I soon learned that things were not as simple as they seemed.I remember England losing 1-0 to Germany in Hanover two years later; the traumatic volte face of the 1970 World Cup, the demoralisation wrought by Gunter Netzer at Wembley in 1972; West Germany’s World Cup victory two years on, without even an English challenge.Then the 1990 World Cup semi-final – defeat on penalties. Then the 1996 European Championship semi-final – defeat on penalties.All this hardly needs to be said, does it? It’s simply there – the knowledge that German football teams beat English football teams.

Because they are very, very well prepared – how dare they have rehearsed all those penalties? – and very, very good. And very, very used to winning.In recent years, England’s only consolation has come at club level as Liverpool, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have beaten German opponents in the European Cup final.When the national side meet again the result is just as likely to be a familiar one, however. And, of course, Manchester United’s winner was scored not by an Englishman but a cherubic Norwegian And, of course, Bayern were incredibly unlucky. And, of course, Geoff Hurst’s second goal in the 1966 World Cup final wasn’t over the line…Stop that now Let’s not think about that at all Let’s think about this. Yes, Bayern Munich 1, Manchester United 2!There is no logic to this – it is all about a very childish glee.

No doubt that if I were to take myself off to some plump Hampstead couch, I would be told that it was something I needed to address. But as far as I am concerned right now, it might as well be return to sender.I watched The Big Match replayed until 3.20 am I relished every minute of it I haven’t ruled out getting the video Sad but true…. IF KEVIN KEEGAN had been true to the theme of the week he would have named his England squad to play next month’s European Championship qualifiers against Sweden and Bulgaria then added, just as the media thought it was all over, “and I’ve also called up Teddy Sheringham”. In the event the England coach yesterday released the Manchester United striker’s name along with 21 others and, though he was not included in the original 33-man group who had been warned not to book their holidays, his appearance was considerably less dramatic than it had been in the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.
Sheringham has not played for England since he was substituted against Romania in Toulouse during the World Cup last June but his recent renaissance, and Keegan’s lack of alternatives, meant it would have been a major surprise had he not been recalled.”I always said the door was open and he has been very influential in the last 10 games for United,” Keegan said “With him in the squad we’ve got good options He gives you something other players don’t.

I’m not saying he’ll start the game because at this moment in time I haven’t decided.”With Michael Owen injured, and a string of players from Chris Sutton to Dion Dublin having ended the season either out of form or struggling for fitness, Keegan also recalled Robbie Fowler despite his suspension from club football for imitating drug-taking as part of a goal celebration.”His fitness is excellent,” Keegan said of the Liverpool striker. “The fact that he hasn’t played for a while might mean he’s champing at the bit.”Paul Ince, however, was not selected, despite having completed the Uefa suspension imposed after his dismissal in the away match with Sweden in September. Though Keegan denied it was the case, it may signal the end of Ince’s England career after 46 caps, several of them as captain.”I’ve told him the truth,” said Keegan, who spoke to Ince an hour before the announcement “I could have picked a squad of 25 and fudged the issue, but if I’d picked him in the 25 it wouldn’t have been to play and I don’t see the sense of dragging him down here and to Sofia if he isn’t going to play.”He’s disappointed and I would be disappointed if he wasn’t. The door is still open and it will stay open.”Five of Manchester United’s treble champions are included, but Nicky Butt and Gary Neville will not be involved.