WHAT a wonderful job the media has done in getting our World Cup expectations up.

Relentless television programmes, radio coverage and newspaper hype has persuaded the English public that 31 countries are going to Germany merely to make up the numbers.

You expect the British bulldog spirit to be in full flow in the popular tabloid papers and commercial radio stations.

But even the normally level-headed areas of the media seem to be convinced that Sven-Goran Eriksson will have to fulfil his promise to do the Peter Crouch robot dance if England win the final.

Probably the most respected of all writers on England's football team, Henry Winter of the Daily Telegraph, says that many England players have revealed in private conversations that they are convinced England will win the World Cup.

Eriksson is adding to the expectation level by saying England have fantastic players, can beat Brazil and win the World Cup.

The English public are jumping on board the bandwagon with televisions, beer and flags flying out of the shops in readiness for the big kick-off.

It's a magnificent time to be an England footballer.

They are the centre of attention in a country which has as good a chance as anybody of winning the World Cup.

With the expectation comes the kind of pressure every player worth his salt must thrive on.

No wonder they are feeling so positive.

The rub will come when the build-up ends and the action begins.

World Cups are notorious for failing to live up to expectations and anyone who thinks Germany 2006 will be all silky skills, great goals and end-to-end football should wake up.

Prepare for the big anti-climax as the World Cup settles down into the addictive hum-drum of third rate football nations trying to kick the more fancied teams off the park.

The only way the current feeling of euphoria can carry on is if England win the tournament.

Anything less and the English public should feel cheated by having their hopes raised by the relentless surge of unbalanced hype.

Now that's pressure.

I'VE got my special T-shirt ready for Wimbledon.

It says: "I support Tim Henman and whoever Andy Murray's playing."

Last year I was totally behind the Scottish teenager. But not any more.

He was totally out of order saying he supported two football teams Scotland and whoever England are playing and that he would be wearing a Paraguay shirt on Saturday.

As an Englishman, it made no difference to me that Murray was Scottish when he rose to fame at Wimbledon 12 months ago, and I was looking forward to cheering him on again this year.

But, after his outspoken jibes about England, I'll laugh my socks off if he gets knocked out in the first round.

You can't expect a Scot to support England, but if he wants the English to cheer him on at Wimbledon he should keep his mouth shut.

IT looks like the England players have their hearts set on becoming television and film stars.

Rio Ferdinand obviously fancies himself as the new Jeremy Beadle with his wind-up show and Peter Crouch appears to be auditioning for a Robocop film with his new goal celebration.

With rumours of an A Team remake circulating, England could provide the stars.

Wayne Rooney was born to play Howling Mad Murdoch and David Beckham would be perfect as Face, in a non-speaking role, of course.

Stick a few chains and a dodgy Mohican haircut on Sol Campbell and he is B A Baracus and Sven-Goran Eriksson would have to be team leader, Hannibal Smith, whose catchphrase was: "I love it when a plan comes together."

Let's hope Sven's plan comes together in Germany.