ENGLAND won all six points on offer in their two World Cup qualifying games last week ? as they should have done. Face it, there would have been an outcry if they hadn't beaten Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan who can hardly be considered stiff opposition. If you are going to have success you have to put those games away. It is always hard to judge a team when they are playing the likes of Azerbaijan ? you can only do that if you see a side up against top opposition. But right now England are in a very good position.

Before this round of World Cup qualifying I said keep an eye out for Israel who many people don't know much about. Well Israel did well in drawing Ireland 1-1 as well as drawing France 1-1. When I was playing for West Ham I travelled to play in Israel and saw that they have some very good players. They are not going to lie down for anybody and it is tough playing against them.

Wales are out of it now after their 1-0 loss to Austria. Although Wales do have some good players, especially Ryan Giggs, they are not deep at all. They have Bellamy but you never know what kind of mood he is going to be in and of course whining Robbie Savage is no longer playing for them. I suppose that while rugby remains king in Wales they will have a hard time getting into major tournaments. And of course Wales just won the Six Nations for the first time in many years.

Holland have looked quite good and winning against Armenia and Romania sees them top Group One with the Czech Republic close behind. Look for those two teams to make it to Germany next year.

The US lost when they played Mexico at Mexico City but that is not surprising ? they have never won there and it would be hard for any team to play the Mexicans in Mexico City and win. But the US bounced back with a 2-0 victory at home to Guatemala. I understand that US star player Landon Donovan will be coming back from Bayer Leverkusen to rejoin the MLS. That is a pity. I know Donovan has not had the best of times when he was in Germany but I would have hoped he would have stuck it out there until the end of the season. He is a good player but luck didn't seem to go his way at Leverkusen.

UEFA banned Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho from the touchline for two games following the hearing yesterday into the 'Barcelona affair'. That might hurt Chelsea a bit in their two Champions League matches against Bayern Munich because Mourinho does a lot of coaching from the touchline. UEFA also fined Chelsea about $62,000 and Mounrinho $16,000. That, obviously, will not make any difference ? it is just change to the club and manager.

Jermaine Pennant was released early from jail yesterday after spending just over a month of a three month sentence for drunk driving. The young player is on loan to Birmingham from Arsenal and I know Birmingham and club manager Steve Bruce have given the player a lot of support. Now it is time for Pennant to repay that trust and just concentrate on his football. He is a good player but has been in trouble a number of times and hopefully this will be the last of it. I imagine spending time in prison was a wake-up call for him.

This feast of football never stops! And I love it. This coming week we have the first legs of the Champions League quarter-finals. All the away teams will be hoping not to lose and, if possible, get an away goal which is so important in this tournament. Of course an away goal doesn't matter that much in one match ? AC Milan against Inter Milan since they both play at the San Siro Stadium!

Liverpool will host Juventus on Tuesday in what will be a very emotional match bringing back memories of the Heysel tragedy 20 years ago. Lyon will host PSV also on Tuesday in the draw of the underdogs while on Wednesday the Italians play as well as Chelsea hosting Bayern Munich. I am not sure if one will see a lot of goals in these games because when it gets to this stage the matches can be a bit tight.

In the Premiership Norwich, Crystal Palace, West Brom and Southampton will be fighting to stay up. Norwich may have the hardest time as they visit Highbury to take on Arsenal while Chelsea play at Southampton. Crystal Palace may have a good chance when they host Middlesbrough while West Brom host Everton who are hungry to get that fourth Champions League spot.