Beer toasted as England's missing ingredient

We've long talked up the value of beer. It ensures a good stag do, livens up dull conversations, improves the attractiveness of women and, now it seems, it helps England perform at football.

England manager Fabio Capello allowed his players to have a beer, just one, before their crucial game with Slovenia on Wednesday and the difference was staggering, so we certainly hope the players are enjoying a glass of South Africa's finest before Sunday's game with Germany.

"They were allowed to drink beer before the game, you can ask them," revealed Capello. "It's true. I changed something and used my imagination."

Maybe allowing Emile Heskey to have more than one might be the answer to his wayward shooting?

Come on the boys!