England expects: Pavlos speaks for the nation

What everyone should be thankful for, however, is that the lax security led to the arrival not of a terrorist, nor even an aggressive, foul-mouthed yob, but a respectable London mortgage-broker, Pavlos Joseph, who surely spoke for all England football fans when he calmly told David Beckham: "We've spent a lot of money getting here. This is a disgrace. What are you going to do about it?"

The answer to that question may emerge in tomorrow's crunch game with Slovenia. Or it may not. After setting off for the World Cup with huge expectations, it seems that the England team has descended into crisis, with many players at odds with their manager, Fabio Capello. To ordinary fans such as Mr Joseph, this is inexplicable. These, after all, are the best footballers in England and they are playing under a manager with a remarkably successful track record.

Unlike the majority of fans, however, they are also extraordinarily well paid. And to those such as Mr Joseph, and the many more at home who could not afford to travel, they owe a simple duty to put any private feelings of resentment aside, do their utmost tomorrow night for their country and their supporters and provide Mr Joseph with an answer to his simple question.