SEMI DISAPPOINTMENT FOR EXPECTANT PUPS

HARDLY A FROWN FOR GOLDEN BROWN

After last year's unexpected over-achievement in Prague, when the Pups finished third (their highest ever placing) and temporarily laid to rest the Lag hoodoo in the process, the expectations of gaffer, players and fans alike in Rome was high. The impressive team performance in the Czech heat had earned wily Supremo Brown a contract extension. Written off as having the "tactical nouse of a rabbit" prior to Prague, the pundits were now tipping the aging Wolverhampton gaffer to live up to his old gold roots, and take his charges at least as far as the Final.

Much of this confidence was based on the fact that Brown was able to boast a squad at least as good as last year. The selection of international debutante James Buck meant that the ability and work-rate of Denyer would not be missed, whilst the promotion of Jas Badeisha from the Nippers would hopefully add the cutting edge in front of goal that many felt was the Pups main weakness in previous tournaments. Whilst the absent Clarke and Marsh were certainly class acts at this level, the addition of Gow, Levinsohn and "Smiley Rob" Corbett would more than compensate.

In fact the only cloud on the horizon was the unavailability of both Sunday morning keepers, Pendleton and Booth. Both ranked with the best in the club's history, and either one would have completed the perfect Pup squad. However, both Hoyland and Corbett were no mugs in the gloves, and in any case, playing behind such a strong back-line should mean that either would have little to do.

FRENCHMAN WINS ENGLISH BATTLE

GROUP A: ENGLAND PUPS 2-0 ENGLAND NIPPERS

Scorers: Loriot (2)

Whilst the form-book would have pointed strongly to a comfortable Pup victory, other factors were likely to make this first game anything but a stroll in the park. English pride was at stake, and the Nippers, fresh and eager in this first game, would be out to put one over on their supposed elders and betters. Perhaps an even stronger motivation was a large contingent of Norfolk's finest in the Nipper line-up, and they were more than keen to gain victory at the expense of their compatriot Groom.

With much at stake then, the first half was a close and tense affair and few chances were created by either side. It was almost that the Pups were too pre-occupied with avoiding defeat in this opening game, until some extra quality from Loriot broke the deadlock just before the interval. The Pup's build-up play was excellent, and the Frenchman added a fitting finish with a superb strike from outside the box. The Nippers continued to make life difficult after the break, but once again it was Loriot who got the better of a determined defence, breaking clear from half-way to effectively seal the match.

NEW BOYS GIVEN LESSON

GROUP A: ENGLAND NEW BOYS 0-4 ENGLAND PUPS

Scorers: Loriot, Gautam, Buck, Brown

Next up, the Pups met the England New Boys, who as their name suggested, were playing in their first ever World Cup match. Once again, the Pups would be facing a team eager to impress, and Brown must surely have had some concerns before the kick-off about facing an unknown quantity.

He needn't have worried. His side were rampant, and after the brilliant Loriot had once again opened the scoring his charges put in a display of attacking football that had the afore-mentioned pundits nodding knowingly. The Pups showed that they could now convert their dominance into goals, as Gautam and Buck completed a trimuvirate of midfield goalscorers. Even the gaffer himself got in on the act, notching a fourth goal for the Pups with his usual deceptive elegance.

HOYZONE TO THE RESCUE

GROUP A: ENGLAND PUPS 1-1 HOLLAND

Scorers: Hoyland

Straight after dinner in the blistering heat of the early-afternoon sun, the Pups faced their sternest test against their oldest rivals from Holland. The Dutch had won their first match with a solitary goal against the dark horses from Wales. Given the Pups' comfortable victories so far, it seemed certain that the Oranje could be confident of adding two further victories after this key encounter. Whilst both sides could be confident of qualifying for the semi-finals, the carrot of finishing top was provided by the likely avoidance of the favourites Italy in the next round. Thus what could have been a gentle kick-about was in fact a very competitive affair by two sides desperate to win.

The match was as intense as the heat, but on a large pitch, goal-mouth action was fairly scarce. However Holland grabbed the initiative when they opened the scoring, and the Pups looked bereft of ideas as the clock ticked down. What the English desperately needed was a man who could come up with something unexpected in the box, and who better than the cardboard king himself, Nigel Hoyland? With just minutes remaining the Pups launched one last bid for an equaliser, and Hoyzone's striking instincts found him in the right place at the right time to slot home an invaluable goal. That was the Pups done for Saturday, but with the Dutch going on to beat the Nippers 2-0, it seemed inevitable that the final placings would come down to goal difference.

NOOBIE'S NERVE LEAVES PUPS ON TOP

GROUP A: WALES 0-1 ENGLAND PUPS

Scorers: Banoub(p)

Sunday morning found some pre-occupied Pups boarding the bus outside the hotel. A relatively early Saturday night reflected the importance of their remaining Group match. Their initial target was fairly clear: they needed to avoid defeat to ensure they qualified for the semi-finals. But to avoid Italy, by now certain to top Group B, they also wanted a win whislt hoping that the Dutch did not achieve a victory that was better by more than four goals. Given what the Pups had seen of the New Boys the previous day, no chickens were being counted.

As well as the prospect of qualifying with a win of their own, the Welsh don't usually need too much motivation when facing the English. The game was physical and there were plenty of crunching tackles. The Pups stood firm and had the better of the chances, but the game remained goalless with just five minutes remaining.

Then Fazel burst into the box only to be felled quite unnecessarily by a wild Welsh lunge. The Italian referee pointed immediately to the spot, and Banoub grabbed the ball. With plenty of vocal encouragement from some Lags in the executive boxes high in the stand, the Pup striker kept his nerve to fire home the penalty. The English shut up shop thereafter, and there were no threats to their lead. The Pups had qualified, and when news came through from another pitch that the Dutch had won by just two goals, they knew that they had topped the group and avoided the hosts in the semi-final. The morning's first mission had been accomplished.

SILVER BULLETS ELIMINATE PUPS

SEMI-FINAL: ENGLAND PUPS 1-3 MANCHESTER

Scorers: Loriot

With just an hour's break after the Welsh match there was little time for the Pups to get nervous before the all-England semi-final. They were strong favourites with the bookies, but were certainly not getting complacent. Scouting information from the Lags indicated a well-organised opposition with some real goal-threat up front, as the old men knew to their cost: a 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon had effectively knocked them out of the World Cup.

Both sides started tentatively on the big occasion, but as the Pups attempted to assert their passing style they found the Mancunians in determined mood. However, after ten minutes England created a great chance to take the lead. More precisely it was Loriot who created the chance, intercepting a defender's pass and bursting clear to leave himself with just the keeper to beat. The Frenchman went for power, but the Mancunian keeper stood up well to block the low, drilled shot. As the Pups struggled to create more clear-cut openings, frustration began to creep in. And then disaster struck. Some comedy defending failed twice to clear a Manchester corner, and a diagonal snap-shot found its way past three men on the line.

The interval allowed Brown to restore some calm, and a more patient Pup approach yielded some far more convincing football in the second half. Manchester's threat on the break rescinded, and England built up the pressure that finally led to an equaliser. It was a superb Gautam corner that delivered the ball right into the danger area, and there was Loriot rising highest to bullet home from six yards. The momentum was now with the Pups, but despite creating a number of chances, the decisive goal just would not come, and the full-time whistle signalled the first ever "Silver Goal" extra time in LogicaCMG World Cup history.

The Manchester players looked exhausted having given their all to stay on level terms towards the end. A Mancunian attempt to negotiate a penalty shoot-out rather than extra time was a stark indication of which team held the psychological upper hand, and the Pups set about finishing off the job with gusto. But despite dominating possession, the Pups could not quite find the finish that would surely have clinched a place in the Final.

And then from nowhere Manchester found the energy to break with speed, and a superb strike gave them an unlikely lead. At least it was not sudden death, and the Pups had some seven minutes to repair the damage. But as they piled numbers forward in desperate search of another equaliser, worse followed. A long ball forward was only half cleared by a sparse Pup back-line and the loose ball was smashed home brilliantly on the half-volley from 25 yards. The Pup dream was over.

THIRD WORLD DECLINE

3rd/4th PLACE PLAY-OFF: HOLLAND 0-1 ENGLAND PUPS

Scorers: Fazel

The semi-final defeat had been a huge disappointment for Brown and his players. Even before the sun-baked dust had settled, the Pups were aware that they had never had a better chance to reach the World Cup Final, and may never have so again. Towards the end of normal time, the Mancunians had seemed dead and buried, and a Pup win seemed inevitable. However, immense credit had to go to Manchester for battling back to win with two excellent goals.

In the other semi-final, Holland had lost by the same scoreline to the hosts, albeit in normal time. After five matches in the blistering heat, it was perhaps no surprise that this bronze medal decider between two disappointed teams began in unspectacular fashion. Indeed, on a huge pitch the game failed to produce little in the way of goal-mouth action. To Brown's credit, he had managed to pick his players up off the floor, and they showed enough zeal to have the better of the game against their fellow Group A qualifiers. And it was Nich Fazel who managed to score his first goal of the tournament to give the Pups a win their play just about meritted.

So for the second year running, the England Pups had bagged a creditable third placed finish in the World Cup. But in contrast to the joyous celebrations in Prague following their victory over the Lags, there was a distinct air of disappointment as Brown picked up the bronze bauble and his players could not help wondering what might have been.