IN CASE anyone has been hibernating for the past four weeks, England play Greece at Old Trafford on Saturday.

If they win their final World Cup qualifying match, Sven's men will be winging their way to Japan and South Korea next summer.

The club versus country debate has been well rehearsed in terms of players and now even coaches given the high profile roles offered to Premiership managers Steve McLaren and Peter Taylor in the Super-Swede's brave new world.

Mind you, having lost his job at Leicester on Sunday night, Taylor is probably regretting not keeping hs coaching role under Eriksson.

But what about the fans. There can be no doubt that the incredible 5-1 win in Germany sent a tidal wave of euphoria crashing around the country with even non-footy fans caught up in the moment.

But if you look at the big picture, there is little doubt that the vast majority of paying fans who travel the length and breadth of the country following their team - yes, even to Norwich! - would rather see THEIR team win than England.

Would Clarets fans rather see Burnley reach the land of milk and honey in the Premiership than England get to the land of sushi and kimonos? You bet your life they would!

That is not to say football fans are unpatriotic, indeed the vast majority of the travelling support from the national team is made up of people who spend their Saturday's at every ground from Old Trafford to The Shay.

It is all a question of priorities. The relationship with the national team is a bit like flirting with someone at the office or down the pub.

It is nice to meet them, there is a bit of glamour, a dash of excitement and you can have a bit of fun but it will never be more than that. You wish that person well but they will always be a poor second in your affections.

The reason is that your heart is already given to the one you love, the husband or wife back at home. Not always as glamorous and captivating maybe but still the one person you turn to, the one you trust, the one you can't live without.

In some parts of the country you will see hundreds of people parading around in their designer England shirts but the Three Lions come a distant second for Clarets fans to the two rampant lions on the Burnley club crest.

In fact the West Brom programme put it very succinctly at the weekend: "Burnley is a proper football club, cut out of a proper footballing town where football isn't just something you do on a Saturday if you don't fancy what is on at the pictures."

Yes, of course the pubs in the town will be packed on Saturday afternoon with people wanting England to win but the real battle this season recommences at the City Ground a week later.

Mind you a win double would be nice - Burnley kicking off the new season in the Premier League with England the champions of the world.

And just a quick word on the big game itself. I had a dream that David Beckham scored the only goal in the last minute to send England to the World Cup.

All I have to decide now is how much money I should donate to the bookies on the back of that vision.