ONE swallow doesn’t make a summer and one goal in a match we should have walked doesn’t mean we’re going to win the World Cup.

Or even beat Germany tomorrow.

I admit I fully expected to be writing this week’s column about our ignominious exit from the South Africa tournament.

But, miraculously, we’re still there.

Jermain Defoe’s goal aside (a good one, I’ll admit) nothing’s changed.

We are still represented abroad by a bunch of blokes who, give or take the odd player, are a load of over-pampered, bratty, arrogant millionaires.

But they picked the wrong week in which to lambast the boo-boys, who also happen to be their broke and infuriated fans.

Because this was the week that some other boys, Our Boys of the 11th Light Brigade, marched through Winchester in their homecoming from Afghanistan.

Ten thousand turned up to cheer them.

But I hope those young soldiers know that everyone who was there was representing 10, 20 more, who just couldn’t make it.

The contrast between these men and the England team couldn’t have been greater.

Despite the heat, the injuries, the fact that they earn in a year what Wayne Rooney quite probably earns in a day, these soldiers turned up to march, immaculate and true.

Sergeant Craig Newton of the Coldstream Guards had been worried Wednesday’s World Cup tie might affect the turnout.

But, he said: “The people of Winchester have done us proud.”

No, Craig, it’s YOU who have done us proud.

These soldiers are the ones who have toiled and fought and pushed themselves to the utmost.

They’re the ones who didn’t give up.

Sixty-four of their number have made the ultimate sacrifice.

So how dare Wayne Rooney criticise the fans, who include men like these, who pay his absurd wages?

And how dare John Terry dribble on about having been away from his kids for four weeks now?

What about the soldiers who are away for six months?

What about the children who will never see their daddy again, because he’s been murdered by the Taliban?

One fan, Kevin Lennon, summed it up: “The players are just arrogant prima donnas.

“Their behaviour after the Algeria match was a disgrace.

“Rooney likes to think he’s a working class lad but he’s paid so much he’s forgotten what it’s like.”

If I was Fabio Capello I would make sure the England players were forced to watch the footage of that parade and of our injured soldiers coming back from Afghanistan.

If they exhibited half the courage, work ethic and spirit of our soldiers, we would win the World Cup every time.