A World Cup without England just wouldn't be a World Cup as far as I am concerned.

So I was so glad they managed to qualify after Saturday's draw with Greece, especially as I was there to watch it.

Because it was an international weekend we didn't have a game and our sponsors, Eidos, invited us to Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, to watch the game from their executive box.

It wasn't the best of games but I was just glad that David Beckham's last minute free kick went in to secure a 2-2 draw because the tournament next year wouldn't be the same without them.

I was sat in the stands thinking if England do not get through, the pubs in Bermuda, never mind in England, would just be dead.

Holland, a major footballing force, are already out, Brazil aren't faring much better either and if none of those three were in Japan and South Korea next year then it wouldn't be the same tournament. TV companies would have the lowest viewing ratings ever!

Watching the game from the stands allowed me to pick up some things that I can use to improve my own game.

England's players are among the best in the world and so it was interesting to watch one or two of them to see just how they cope when they are not having a good match, see if they were brave enough to say `I'm not having the best of games, so what other way can I contribute?'

I must say I was disappointed with Robbie Fowler, the Liverpool forward. I am an admirer of his. In his early days at Liverpool he was a lethal striker, one of the best finishers in the country, if not the world.

But now I think he needs a new challenge. It wasn't going for him in terms of his touch against Greece, but he also didn't have the enthusiasm to see how he could help out his team-mates, such as Emile Heskey, either.

If you are not playing well you have to try and contribute in some other way, by pressurising defenders and things like that.

That is where David Beckham, the England captain differed. He did exactly that.

It was good to see players like Beckham doing that. It shows that even players like him can have bad games but they can contribute in some other way - that is why such players are the best in the world.

Beckham has undergone a remarkable transformation in a relatively short space of time.

His goal on Saturday has taken England to the World Cup but in the last tournament in France he was the player everyone wanted to lynch after he got himself sent off against Argentina. He has come full circle and I for one am very pleased for him.

While I was at the game I met the delegation from the Bermuda Football Association, who have been in England on a visit to our FA.

As the game was on my doorstep I received a call and met up with them afterwards.

They had some photos taken with a few of the dignitaries there - former England player Bobby Charlton and even the manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

After that I invited them round to my place and we chatted for two or three hours.

They told me about the reasons for their visit and how they were looking to implement one or two ideas from England back in Bermuda.

It was only a week ago that I was told about the resignation of former BFA president Neville Tyrrell and that Larry Mussenden had taken over and Robert Calderon had become the vice president.

So it was good to sit down with them because they gave me a little insight into what their plans were and what they were looking to do - and from what I heard the future looks good.

I came away with a positive feeling and I just hope they get the support they are looking for. I am looking forward to one or two of the things being put in place because it will be good for football and will help Bermuda progress.

We get back to playing tomorrow when we take on Birmingham City in the Worthington Cup at Maine Road.

It is a game that is important that we win, not only so that we can progress in the competition but also so that we can reinstall some confidence in the side.

We were beaten 4-0 at home by Wimbledon in our last match and so we need to come back with a positive result.

You work hard to make your home ground a fortress and while sometimes you can accept defeat, you can't when you lose by three and four goals, so we have it all to do again.

We played Birmingham recently in the League and beat them 3-0. But they are going to come here wanting to show us that that result was an off day for them and I don't see it being an easy game at all.