A LOT of nonsense has been written since England's draw with Sweden on Sunday.

It doesn't matter whether its authors have been moved by national opinion, or the other way round, but much of the analysis and comment has missed the target by miles.

Let's face it, if anyone could have guaranteed a point before the second match in the so-called Group of Death, we'd all have accepted it.

It was only the manner of the performance in Japan which fell short of expectations, not the outcome.

The reaction has left an un-natural level of expectation on the shoulders of Sven-Goran Eriksson's young players.

We don't wish to be gloomy, but that will only add unnecessarily to the understandable disappointment if tomorrow's result doesn't go England's way.

So our call today is for football fans to set their sights realistically as they prepare for the big match in Sapporo.

We need a sense of proportion because, as the cliche says, football's a funny old game.

Worcester bar manager Ray Brierley prompts our thought that we must enjoy the moments and the event, and let the result take care of itself.

"The beer goes everywhere when England score," he tells us today.

Let's hope the ceiling's plastered by the end of the Argentina game. But let's accept that it's not the end of the world if it isn't - victory against Nigeria might still be enough.

After that, there's only one thing to say. Come on, England!