We thought it wasn’t over. Well, it is now.

The English FA have handed Sweden Group B. What with star-striker Wayne Rooney already crocked, the FA bowed to pressure from, er, no one but themselves and appointed the man very few Englishmen wanted to see replace Sven-Göran “I’m probably off to Real Madrid” Eriksson with Middlesborough manager Steve “What have I won?” McClaren.

McClaren had looked set to miss out to Portugal manager Luiz “Big Phil” Scolari, who was offered the post by the Football Association in April. But when Scolari ruled himself out of contention having witnessed at first hand just how brutally intrusive the British hack-pack can be, they turned to a man who has won virtually nothing: 45-year-old Steven McClaren.

Eriksson’s current assistant has agreed a four-year deal starting on 1 August.

Sven & Steve. Not so much the dream team anymore! Photo: Incandopolis

Just what McClaren’s role will be in Germany remains to be seen. Although the man himself insists he’ll be concentrating on helping Sven, there can be little doubt many of the England squad will be looking to make a strong impression on their new manager.

It’s very clear that Sven-Göran has clearly been working as a double-agent all along. Now we fully understand just why he committed so many blunders along the way and get himself effectively sacked just before the World Cup: to destabilise Sweden’s opponents in Germany.

All we need now is Sven to sing on the T&T and Paraguay World Cup anthems to put them off their game.

So, what’s the odds on Sweden to win Group B now?