[Jagger]

You have to wonder, crazy as this may seem, whether Bent would have been selected if he played for the likes of Man U or Chelsea. I think he would have been. Bent is the only real surprise to me and should probably have been the plane. He is in form and is the type of player I would like to have coming on when a goal is required.

After saying that, I like Defoe, so if it was a direct choice between the two I'd take the Spurs striker. Heskey is a different player than the rest of the strikers. Sure he had trouble hitting a barn door while playing for Liverpool but he did bring intangibles to the table. He is a little underrated actually. Rooney plays very well with him and that, for me, is the single biggest reason that he's going.

That's a pretty strong squad if everyone plays up to snuff and injuries are kept to a minimum. Barry is an important player in that mix. They need him to get healthy quickly.

I have huge anticipation for the finals to begin. Funnily enough I have *almost* as much anticipation for the World Cup as I do for my latest baby to be born! It's due to be born mid July so you never know perhaps the little blighter will choose July 11th as its birthdate. Now if England by some miracle happens to be playing then and somehow win, that would be quite the birthday present.

(As an aside I was born a month before England won the World Cup. God I'm flippin' old! Anyway, here's to history repeating itself. Hope springs eternal!)