No games over the weekend due to the Euro qualifiers and how enjoyable to see Portugal draw at home to Cyprus 4-4. Plenty of hoopla around England’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday, a hat-trick for Defoe, a first goal from Andy Johnson, a great performance from Rooney and a confidence-inspiring display from Joe Hart.

Whether this restores any faith and confidence in Capello remains to be seen given that we’ve been here before and for many the proof is not going to be in the qualifying, although that is the first target, but how England might go in the finals.

The Bulgaria game was not all good news with Spurs’ centre-half Michael Dawson spraining ligaments in both knee and ankle (and this photo on the BBC website will make you wince) that will keep him out for 6 -8 weeks. That leaves the England Centre-Half cupboard so bare even Old Mother Hubbard would take pity.

Of course, tonight’s game with Switzerland is being played against the back-drop of the News Of The World’s allegations against Wayne Rooney. Why there should be this fascination with footballers who often are little more than, to coin an Australian phrase, cashed-up bogans, is a little baffling but not as baffling as to why an English newspaper would work so hard to undermine the national squad.

The summer transfer window has now closed and there was, as usual, some last day and last minute dealings. Spurs finalised the transfer Real Madrid’s midfield enforcer Rafael van der Vaart, which will no doubt also have the English tabloids frothing at the mouth, given that his model wife is quite attractive in a very attractive sort of way.

Plenty of strikers on the move with Eidur Gudjohnsen back in the Premier League, this time on loan from Monaco to Stoke – presumably leaving his love of exotic boats and casinos to pursue his new passion for pottery; Stoke have also picked up ex-Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant from Real Zaragoza; and, Marcus Bent has gone from Birmingham to Wolves on loan, a fascinating deal as it seems to defy all logic that Birmingham would loan local rivals Wolves fifty pence let alone a striker.

Blackpool have picked up DJ Campbell from Leicester but far and away the best deal involving a striker is Sunderland landing Ghana’s World Cup captain Asamoah Gyan. At 13 million pounds, if he replicates the form he showed in South Africa, he will surely be the bargain of the season.

Paul Konchesky completed his move to Liverpool and Robinho finally left Man City going to AC Milan for an undisclosed amount which is code for far less than City paid for him. Clearly a phenomenal talent but Robinho’s tenure in the Premier League was doomed from the moment he was bought – given that then manager Mark Hughes knew little about the deal.

How differently things may have turned out for both parties had Phil Scolari landed Robinho for Chelsea instead.

Squads have also been announced this week with teams in the Premier League having to name a 25-man squad, that had to include 8 home-grown players – they can supplement this with any number of under 21 year old players.

Arsenal didn’t name a single English player in their squad but obviously have the likes of Walcott and Wilshire coming in as under 21s. Spurs left out Jonathon Woodgate and you’d have to think that the central defender’s days as a professional player must be over. A real shame for one of the best central defenders in recent times.

Those clubs in the Euro comps also had to name 25 man squads. Whilst Man Utd did name Owen Hargreaves in their Premier League team they haven’t named him in their UEFA squad, so plenty of speculation that Hargreaves is unlikely to make any appearance this side of Christmas and so perhaps another player who’s injury plight might soon bring a premature end to a playing career.

Certainly makes you look at the likes of Giggs and Scholes in a new light, doesn’t it?

Aston Villa are on the brink of naming a permanent replacement for Martin O’Neill, Kevin Macdonald whose been caretaking has been interviewed along with Alan Curbishley and Gerard Houllier and it seems from the media reports that Houllier who is currently the French Technical Director will get the job.