Ecuador 0, England 1 (FT)

Let it be said (again) that David Beckham has a special way of answering his critics. Usually, it involves a squeaky voice that makes Mike Tyson sound like Lou Rawls by comparison, but every now and then, Becks lets his right foot do the talking (which is good, because as the late George Best noted, he’s fucking useless with his left)

England will meet the winner of Portugal/Netherlands, a remarkable situation given they’ve not fully impressed in any of their matches in this tournament. But to paraphrase the late Mr. Gomez, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. A little bit of both is preferable, though, and this was an afternoon in which Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard, to name three, could’ve done more with their chances.

Someone really ought to send out a search party for John Terry — don’t tell me he’s right in the center of the pitch, there’s no evidence of it.