SWEET revenge. Sweet rapture. England's World Cup victory over Argentina proved, once again, that few things have the power to unite the nation like sport - football especially.

With the annual battle against Scotland a thing of history, for most fans, the bitter rivalry which fires the soul and the imagination comes from meeting the South Americans.

After defeats at the World Cups in 1986 and 1998 - games which made the Hand of God and Boot of Beckham infamous - the prospect of another was too great to contemplate.

The best most dared hope for was a draw. What other way could it be for an England fan? So often, we've built up hope and had it snatched away. But not yesterday.

If the atmosphere in the pubs, clubs, homes and workplaces of Worcester, and the communities beyond, was one to remember, then those who invested the most - time and money - in watching it for real in Sapporo arguably deserved the outcome most.

And, if there was much work done around the city for the remainder of the afternoon, we'd be amazed.

Few things will make an England fan feel better this tournament. One would be defeating Germany, the other winning the World Cup itself.

But there's a long way to go before either can happen, starting with Nigeria.

That's next Wednesday, however. For the next few days, let's just bask in the glory of the moment.