Fabio Capello has made a bizarre thank you to Slaven Bilic, the coach of Croatia. Bilic has been reported in recent days criticising the way England are run as a national side and saying that they are still clearly haunted by the Euro 2008 exit that his team dished out to them at Wembley.

Well Capello has said that he would like to thank Bilic as he now does not need to give a team talk ahead of the game tonight. Instead it has been rumoured that Capello will print out numerous copies of the Bilic comments and put them all over the England dressing room.

What makes Bilic’s comments even more mystifying is the fact that when the pair met in an early qualifying match in Croatia it was England who cantered to a 4-1 victory with Theo Walcott getting three of the goals, a player who can barely get into the senior squad at current.

Capello said: “I’m very grateful to Mr Bilic because I don’t need to motivate my players for the match. Thank you Mr Bilic. He tried to provoke a reaction and it is the best. I have no need to motivate my players after this. It’s fantastic assistance. My players are very determined, so thank you.”

“I like the English spirit. I saw this spirit in a lot of games we’ve played. It’s impossible to win without spirit. We suffered sometimes during first halves and played better second halves, and it would have been impossible to do that without spirit.”

“With me, Rooney, if I remember well, only once did he not make a good tackle. Only once. Afterwards he played always well. Provocation means nothing for Rooney.”

The spirit that Capello talks of is the same spirit that saw England come back from 2-0 down in a friendly against Holland to draw the match and beat Germany in Munich with a much weakened side.

So far the only teams that England have lost to are France and Spain, both quality sides and both in friendlies when the managers were toying around with their teams to try and find new combination’s.

Things are looking good and now that Bilic has added some extra spice to the encounter this evening, it could well turn out to be the very motivation that Capello talks of and the decisive factor that sees England become one of the very first teams to qualify for the  FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa next summer.

“When you walk through the storm, hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark. At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky and the sweet silver sound of the lark.”

It’s been sung at Anfield thousands of times but the lyrics of Liverpool’s famous football anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone never ceases to provoke tremendous pride and passion. Grown men have been reduced to tears by the Gerry Marsden song which symbolizes everything the club has been built upon. Courage, fortitude, hope, bravery and much much more.

Even one of Liverpool’s most famous of players, Kevin Keegan admits to being moved to breaking point on hearing the Kop burst into song minutes before kick-off and, many a time, he still had tears in his eyes when play began.

One thing is for sure. Liverpool Football Club will never, ever walk alone. Founded in 1892, it has a legion of fans throughout the world, not just around Liverpool, and no other English club can match its roll of honour. League Champions 18 times, FA Cup winners on seven occasions, League Cup winners seven times over (including four years in a row in the 1980s), five-time holders of the European Cup and winners of the UEFA Cup three times. Liverpool FC is a legend and the red shirts of the supporters and the players are recognised and acknowledged wherever they go.

There have been glory years and times of heart-break but guts and determination have always got the club back on track. Perhaps their whole ethos is summed up by Bill Shankly who once famously said: “Football is not just a matter of life and death. I am disappointed by that statement. It is more important than that.”

Liverpool’s closest neighbour and perhaps biggest of rivals are Everton and even close families are known to have divided loyalty. If you come from Liverpool, you are often asked the question: “Are you a red or a blue?”

Ironically, it was Everton, or the Toffees, who helped to shape the future of Liverpool. In 1892, Everton left Anfield following a dispute over rent but club chairman, John Houlding was not to be defeated. The story goes that he stayed behind, along with a handful of supporters and three team players, absolutely determined to keep football at the ground. A new team was formed from scratch and it was named Liverpool. The rest has become history.

There have been so many highs and lows. In 1901, Liverpool secured their first title win, against all the odds. They went from losing eight games and conceding 31 goals to winning nine games and drawing three and ended up topping the league.

In 1950, Liverpool made their first Wembley appearance, losing 2-0 to Arsenal. In 1965, the club won the FA Cup for the first time, with Ian St John scoring the winner against Leeds. Liverpool became Euro Champions for the first time in 1977 and were treble winners under Gerard Houllier in 2001. And who could forget that incredible Champions League final of 2005 when Liverpool trailed AC Milan 3-0 at half-time. Supporters walked out in their droves and all around the country, fans switched off their televisions in disgust. Many did not even realise their team had made a miraculous come-back, winning on penalties, until they switched on their televisions or radios the next morning.

That fight-back was inspired by Stevie Gerrard and in 2006, the captain did it again. He famously rescued Liverpool in the FA Cup final against West Ham, equalising in the last minute to force extra time and penalties. Liverpool won in a match now regarded as Stevie’s final.

But there have been terrible tragedies too which have left their mark on the club in the most terrible of ways. Fans still weep at the memory of Heysel. On May 29, 1985, at the start of the European Cup final against Juventus at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, rioting fans caused a wall to collapse. Thirty nine Juventus supporters died.

There was even worse to come. In 1989, on April 15, Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest also ended in disaster. Ninety six fans were killed when the crowd surged through gates. Hillsborough was the worst sporting disaster in British history and led to the creation of all-seater grounds.

The Kop saw the same fate. Where once thousands of fans would stand and chant Liverpool’s name, now they had to sit, although virtually a match goes by without an announcement across the tannoy of “Would fans in the Kop end please refrain from standing up!”

It was in the Kop that the singing began, inspired by the Beatles era of the 1960s. And it was here that fans adopted the anthem of You’ll Never Walk Alone. It’s often said that the Kop End is Liverpool’s 12th man and legend suggests that the Koppite roar has on more than one occasion helped the ball to cross the line!

Just inside the main gates of Anfield stands the statue of Bill Shankly, with the words “He made the people happy.” He did indeed. Shankly, who was manager from 1959 to 1974, used to say: “The very word Anfield means more to me than you can describe.”

Liverpool have had many famous managers, including Bob Paisley from 1974 to 1983, another name synonymous with the club. Manager from 1985 to 1991 was Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness was in charge from 1991 to 1994, Roy Evans from 1994 to 1998, teaming up with Gerard Houllier for the 1998/99 season and then Houllier by himself from 1999 to 2004. Houllier said he used to stand in the Kop in 1969 and the atmosphere and passion on the pitch and terraces was intoxicating, making Liverpool a part of him that day.

Today, the club is managed by Rafael Benitez and is owned by Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett, a very far cry from the Liverpool of 1892. There have been many great names on the pitch since, from Emlyn Hughes, Phil Neal and Bruce Grobbelaar to David James, Steve McManaman and Jamie Rednapp, all of whom became household names. The greats throughout Liverpool’s history would echo Bill Shankly’s declaration: “Liverpool was made for me and I was made for Liverpool.”

Just like the hot-dog stand at every soccer match, the queues are forming to take a swipe at Ryan Giggs.

PFA , Player of the Year? For what? Sitting on the subs’ bench or being faithful to Sir Alex Ferguson for two decades?

Miaow. How the claws come out when a decision doesn’t go your way. Or is it because Gigsy plays for Manchester United?

“Never in a million years should Ryan Giggs get the Player of the Year Award,” said one disgruntled fan. “He’s not even a regular in the first team.”

“Does anyone take these awards seriously?” asks another.

Well, yes, they do actually, as aptly demonstrated by all the fuss being made about the recipient. If no-one cared, there would be no need for comment, would there?

Just take a step back and look at the facts. Ryan Giggs has been one of Manchester United’s most faithful players and still has talent oozing from his boots. His pace is still remarkable for a man of 35 years of age with lots of mileage under his belt. He is every inch the team player and can still score a cracking goal. Who could ever forget that stunner at Wembley? He doesn’t moan or groan or bring the game into disrepute. He always conducts himself as a gentleman and is quiet and articulate during interviews. And, most importantly perhaps, he has an affinity with his manager that many other players would give their right arm for.

Giggs was only 13 years of age when he was first spotted by Sir Alex. The manager was apparently alerted by one of his soccer scouts to a promising young lad who played for Salford Boys. So the story goes, Sir Alex was so impressed when he saw the young Ryan on the field that he went straight round to his home and told his mother that he should sign on the line there and then. Great news for Manchester United but not so good for Manchester City who saw him snapped up from under their noses!

Since then, says Giggs, his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson has been “brilliant” and that’s no mean achievement given the standards Sir Alex sets and how easy it is to fall out with him. Many a promising young player has fallen by the wayside, regardless of talent.

“The manager has been massive since I first met him when I was 13,” says Giggs.

“That was 20 years ago and he knows me better than anyone. Our relationship has been brilliant. It’s not worth thinking about what it would have been like without the manager.”

The PFA’s Player of the Year Award not only means something, it means a lot. And for Giggs, it really is the icing on the cake. He has won several top accolades during his career and was name Young Player of the Year twice. He has also been nominated on several occasions for Player of the Year, stretching back 15 years, but this was his first success at the big one.

Giggs has notched up some 800 appearances for Manchester United and has played a part in 26 matches this season. Compare that to Frank Lampard’s 58, say some fans. Others believe the PFA should make the awards at the end of the season, with the ammunition to support them.

But this award, it must be remembered, is voted for by the players. And, quite simply, they wanted Giggs. It should be looked at as an award for his lifetime’s achievement, not just a season, and you could see the pride on his face as he picked up the shining trophy at the awards ceremony. This isn’t a time for back-biting or bitching. Giggs deserves the hand of congratulations, no matter what team you support. Not for one moment should any of the other nominated players question the decision. They should be proud to keep such distinguished company.

Who knows, it might not be the last time we see Giggs heading the list. When this season comes to a close, he still has a year on his contract and says he is as strong and as fit as ever. “I am enjoying the game more than ever,” he revealed during the ceremony.
The only cloud on the horizon is that Giggs chose to play for Wales rather than England. He could have had the choice of either, having a Welsh mother and an English father.

Anyway, if the PFA had their way, Ryan Giggs would be right up there with the best of them, Gerrard and Torres included. For as the icing on the cake, Giggs was included in the PFA’s dream team of the year, along with Young Player of the Year, Aston Villa winger, Ashley Young. And not a Wayne Rooney in sight. What does that tell us all about the right way to conduct yourself on and off the football pitch?

There’s a time and place to field an inexperienced, young team during a football season, but it’ not a good idea to do in an FA Cup semifinal. But it seems Alex Ferguson hasn’t learned that yet and paid the ultimate price by getting knocked out of the Cup 4-2 on penalties by a less than mediocre Everton side at Wembley today (April 19th).

It serves Ferguson right for being so arrogant and stupid in his selection and substitutions, but it isn’t right for the team’s fans who spend their hard-earned money following the team all year in, year out. I have no problem with the starting 11 that United fielded as I think they have a lot of depth and the players picked were capable enough of handling Everton. But there’s no excuse for not having a back up plan, and not even dressing Rooney, Ronaldo, Carrick, and Giggs is just plain idiotic to me. You never know what’s going to happen during the course of a match. It could be a penalty, a red, card, or injuries, etc. and you have to back up the youngsters with some experience just in case they aren’t up to the task.

And don’t come back by telling me that Ferguson has won so many trophies during his career, so what? If he knew his team and used some common sense he might have won a lot more. Why go through all of the qualifying FA Cup rounds (and complaining about the fixture list as usual) and then throw it away in the semi final. My God, Ferguson, if you’re going to do that you might as well throw it away in the first round, not the second last. It’s like scaling Mount Everest and then deciding to pack it in when you’re 100 feet from the peak. By leaving Danny Welbeck on the pitch and taking off Macheda and Park, baffles my mind.

Ferguson’s penalty kick selection was just as bad as his substitutions. Granted, Vidic scored, but why was he taking a penalty ahead of Scholes and Tevez? As for Ferdinand and Berbatov having their shots saved, what did he expect? These are two of the laziest players in the history of football. Mind you, I can understand why Ferguson let Ferdinand take a penalty. He should know where the net is by now because that’s all he does for 90 minutes, passes it back to his goalie from wherever he is on the pitch. In fact, if captain Ferdinand put as much effort into his penalty as he did when kicking the ball into the stands after missing it, he might be given the benefit of the doubt.

You’d think that Ferguson would know his players by now and who should play in what situations. I’m sure there are millions of 12-year-old kids around the world who could have done a better job of managing United today. The last thing you want to do is go into the remaining few games of the season and the Champions League with no momentum, not when they’re both up for grabs. And by the way, Everton don’t really have any reason to celebrate the win either. While their manager David Moyes may not have cocked everything up, they still played poorly in a rubbish match, and the same type of performance will see them get thumped by Chelsea on May 30th in the Wembley final.