David Seaman was beaten by a long-range Dietmar Hamman free-kick in the first half. Hamman took advantage of the fact that no England player stood near the ball to stop the quick one, Seaman was still preparing his defence, and moved away from his left hand post just before the shot was struck. Paul Scholes, who'd committed the foul, was standing in a "come and build a wall around me" position near the edge of the box, and jumped out of the way as the shot came past him. Seaman scrambled back as the ball zipped off the wet turf, but couldn't get across in time to stop it going inside that left hand post.

England picked things up in the second half but never looked very likely to break through. Seaman made a good stop from Scholl, and captain Tony Adams and Martin Keown did fine at the back. And some of England's most promising moves came when Adams galloped forward. Ray Parlour came on for Beckham towards the end, but never got a grip on the wet conditions.

It seems likely that Howard Wilkinson will take over for the Finland game on Wednesday. The FA won't have the balls to ask Venables, or the humility to ask Peter Taylor. If they decide to go for a foreigner, former Gooner George Graham could come into the frame. But if you're going to ask a Scot....