Was it really that bad?

So there we have it. Another England performance, and another total overreaction from the National press. Standard really.

Same old England, they say. No progress, no hope.

Well, if last night wasn't progress (albiet slow and steady progress) - then what is?

Cast your minds back to *that* Croatia game in April. Remember how bad we were then? The game where we couldnt string two passes together, and we struggled to cope with any kind of movement and technical play? We had no clue then, and things were looking rather bleak under the reign of McClown.

However, in my opinion, last night was a step in the right direction.

We passed the ball pretty well, and there was some movement off the ball. Players werent going missing, they werent scared - they actually wanted the ball. We had some good efforts on goal as well, more than the Czechs - as the stats show.

But more importantly, the team had balance, and although we were undone a few times by a very good counter-attacking side, for the most part I felt we defended well.

And what about the spirit? The last minute equalizer undoubtedly shown the character in the camp at the moment, even if it did only salvage a draw.

Concerns? I have a few. Lampard offered nothing for me - just sideways passes in the centre-circle. When did he ever get forward like he does for Chelsea? And while Beckham's range of passing and crossing cannot be questioned, he just cant get beyond his full-back - Bentley managed it so much more in his brief cameo, and provided some decent crosses in the box as well. Joe Cole and Bentley to come in for Becks and Lampard, please.

And then there's the John Terry issue. When Terry got the captaincy, I didnt know whether to laugh or cry. The fact that Terry and his Chelsea mates basically forced the new 'Respect - Get On With The Game' campaign shows that he shouldn't be leading our country.

What next? Joey Barton supports World Peace?

But back onto the game.

What exactly gives us the god-given right to be beating the Czech Republic anyway? Because we're England? Nonsense. They're a good side in their own right, and probably a better side than us at the moment.

The sooner we start being more realistic with our chances and expectations, the better. We're not world beaters by any means, but we're going in the right direction.