I WANT TO FOLLOW THESE GUYS AND PLAY IN GERMANY

I MIGHT have returned from a wonderful stay at the World Cup but my heart is still in Germany.

So much so I fancy a crack at the Bundesliga!

I'm 29 and if I'm lucky I will have five or six years left at a high level so there's not much time for hanging about.

I'm at the stage of my career that if I fancy doing something I have to put the wheels in motion as soon as I can.

Playing abroad is something that had never seriously crossed my mind but I've returned from the World Cup with a different outlook on football.

I want to be able to look back on my career with good memories and right now I feel there will be something missing if I've not sampled life on the continent.

Holland and France also appeal but there's something special about Germany.

I was only there for a few days to take in some games but I was impressed with the people, the lifestyle and the way the country is crazy about football.

The grounds built for the World Cup are also impressive. The whole idea of it is right up my strasse!

Paul Lambert and Murdo MacLeod had great times in Germany and I'd like to follow in their footsteps.

I also remember other Scots successes there such as Alan McInally at Bayern, Scott Booth at Dortmund, Brian O'Neil at Wolf sburg and Mark Fother-ingham who's still at Freiburg.

I spoke to Jambos coach Valdas Ivanauskas about it at training last week. He played at Hamburg and was full of praise for Germany and its football.

I still have two years left on my contract at Hearts and I'm in no rush to leave. There are exciting times ahead at Tynecas-tle and I want to play my part.

But I'm serious about playing in Germany.

I'll be glued to the telly this afternoon when England face Ecuador.

Sven Goran Eriksson's men are favourites to win this last-16 clash but the way his side have been playing they can't take anything for granted.

England are lucky to have won their section.

Against Sweden they were diabolical defensively and every time the Swedes went up the park they looked like scoring, particularly from set pieces.

For a side like England to concede a goal from a corner kick and another from a long throw is criminal.

They're kidding themselves on if they think they can go on and win the World Cup with defending of that standard.

I believe they missed Gary Neville at right-back and if Rio Ferdinand is struggling they have big problems because Sol Campbell isn't playing like a dependable replacement.

Eriksson also has big decisions to make between his midfield and strikers. Michael Owen is out and it leaves him with Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney.

To beat Ecuador I would go with a midfield four of David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole.

However, I'd ask Lampard to occupy the holding role to allow Gerrard to get forward more.

Lampard's finishing in the final third hasn't been up to scratch. Gerrard's striking is much better and the Liverpool skipper also isn't as selfish and will choose to pass when that's the right option.

Gerrard and Joe Cole have been England's best players, genuine match winners and the only two really driving the team forward.

I'd go with Rooney and Crouch as the front pairing but I've a feeling Eriksson will be more cautious and play with Rooney on his own and possibly Lampard just off him. This is a big game for Beckham and he needs to rise to another level.

Becks has been doing just enough in games and I was expecting more from him.

I know if Scotland were preparing to face England in this match we would not fear them.

We would have a right go and feel we'd have a good chance of beating them.

After watching every side in the tournament I believe that outside of Brazil, Argentina Spain and Holland we'd be able to do well. If Ecuador go into this game in a positive mood they can cause an upset.

Agustin Delgado is a good striker and if his team-mates can supply him with decent service he will cause England problems.

It's a match I'm really looking forward to and the meeting later tonight between Holland and Portugal will also be a cracker.

AS TOLD TO MARK GUIDI

I CAN'T believe the Czech Republic are out. I tipped them as one of my outside bets and they started so well, beating the USA 3-0.

But they then lost to Ghana and had it all to do against Italy.

I watched that game with Rudi Skacel, Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil and only the goalkeeping of Gigi Buffon prevented the Czechs taking the lead.

Then just before half-time Jan Polak was sent off for a silly second yellow. His team-mates won't have been happy and in those circumstances words are exchanged in the dressing-room.

JUST when you think Guus Hiddink can't enhance his CV any further he takes Australia into the last 16 after a cracking clash with Croatia that had fine goals, a flurry of cards and poor refereeing.

Hiddink is a fantastic coach and success follows him everywhere.

Russia are lucky to have him as their next gaffer and England might rue the day they didn't pursue him to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson.

I'll be watching the Aussies against Italy tomorrow with interest and the on-form Azzurri should have enough to go through as they don't look like conceding.

But never write Hiddink off.

Taken from the Sunday Mail