By Sam Wallace in Zurich

Okay, parallel universe time. Try to imagine it. It’s 21 November, 2007 and Mladen Petric’s shot at Wembley on 77 minutes clips the outside of Scott Carson’s post. Phew, close one that. A 2-2 draw at home to Croatia is nothing to celebrate but never mind, we’re going to Euro 2008 after all. Steve McClaren puts his brolly in a charity auction at Christmas and everyone has a bit of a laugh about the episode. McClaren gets an endorsement with an outdoorwear company. There’s a mildly amusing television advert in January.

By Sam Wallace in Zurich

Marco Van Basten has a wonderful opportunity tomorrow night to finish the job he started in Group C last week: eliminating Italy and France from Euro 2008. His Netherlands team have beaten the World Cup finalists from 2006 in their first two games and can finish them off. But only if the Netherlands lose to Romania tomorrow.

Here's the moral maze for Van Basten. If his Dutch team lose to Romania in Berne, the result of France against Italy in Zurich is immaterial.

By Sam Wallace

When he faced up to the media - and one very persistent Polish reporter in particular - Howard Webb found himself in that peculiar position of any referee suddenly thrust into the spotlight: he had to assure everyone that they he does the job to the best of his abilities and that he is not – to put it bluntly – bent.

There is something in the psyche of every aggrieved nation – in this case Poland – that wants to believe that they are the victims of a refereeing conspiracy. That dark and sinister forces are moving against them. That Webb called his assistants together before the game and told them in a low whisper, "No way are Poland taking the three points today, if you know what I mean". Perhaps you could throw in an evil cackle just to complete the picture.