One of Fabio Capello's biggest tasks ahead of next summer's World Cup finals will be to manage the expectations of the ever-demanding nation.
The England manager's role will be to balance confidence with a bit of humility, insisting his side can win the World Cup, while acknowledging that any number of teams are in with a good chance of going all the way.
What he won't be doing is following the example of German captain Michael Ballack - who has completely written off his side's chances.
The Chelsea midfielder told Kicker magazine: "We do not have the consistency or the strength in depth in the squad. We have been too weak to be able to say we have the class to beat everybody else."
Can you imagine Capello or Ballack's Chelsea team-mate John Terry coming out with this?
Now, of course, this could all be a cunning piece of psychology from Ballack who believes his team-mates need a kick up the backside every now and then. Personally, we're hoping he's telling the truth!
French farce
While it may be the German skipper playing down his side's chances next summer, across the border in France it's practically the whole country who believe Les Bleus will be Les Miserables in South Africa.
And the one man they are all blaming is, of course, astrology-loving coach Raymond Domenech.
But it seems that being seen by much of Europe as a footballing laughing stock has concentrated a number of minds at the French Football Federation with one member, a Monsieur Guy Chambily, calling for Domenech to be axed.
Hugely successful Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc has been tipped as a successor but the former France captain is not interested, while the head of the FFF has called all the speculation "ill-timed and counter-productive".
Web savvy
We at ITV.com are most thankful for the readers of FIFA.com for deciding that Group G, which contains Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea is next year's Group of Death.
It's the sort of insight we'd expect to see from the home of the world governing body.
Just a couple of questions though. Firstly, who were the 2% of users who deemed Italy's group which contains Paraguay, Mexico and New Zealand the toughest?
And also, should they really allow comments from the likes of Mr S Morrison in New Zealand to be on the site?
This Kiwi philosopher opined: "I think everyone takes the World Cup too seriously. You're all sad, much like soccer. A game of men kicking a ball around."
Obviously not a fan of the All Whites.
